Ty
Moderator
"Nice gun, but do you really worry about being overrun by coyotes and abnormally large squirrels? Wait, what else is chambered in 5.56?... Oh I remember! .22's and BB guns!"
You should hurry up and warn the vast majority of military forces on earth that use that round! What are they thinking!
Heck, even the Russians have backed off the 7.62 thing, and gone to the 5.45 round for their new assault rifles.
Mogg
Member
I find this whole thread fascinating, given that I live in a country with very very very tight gun control laws. What are the regulations for licensing in the US, or is it different in different places? Over here, you have to have a license to handle a firearm of any kind at all, and a permit to own even heirloom or paintball guns, and even some heirloom or collectors' items are required to be permanently disabled. No going to the local shooting range for a tryout - you must have a license.
Ty
Moderator
Gun laws vary by state, and can even vary by city. In New Mexico, where I live, anyone can buy a gun and take it home the same day if they pass a very simple screening. The screening is just a list of people who have felony convictions or other violent crimes. If your record is clear, you go home with a gun.
You can keep a gun in your house, and because we have extended domain laws, you can keep a gun in your car (which is considered an extension of your house). You can transport firearms from place to place in a reasonable manner, meaning that you can carry a gun to and from your car and at the firing range and heck, even in the mall if there is a gun store. If it's not in a case, the cops may hassle you about it, but it's not illegal.
In most townships and city limits, you may not carry a concealed firearm without a special license. Also, in most cities and towns wearing a firearm openly can be considered 'brandishing' and can be a criminal offense. This means that no one gets to carry a gun around on the streets unless they have a license. In New Mexico, the concealed carry license requires a two day safety class, a proficiency test, and about three months of applications and flaming hoops to jump through. But, if you're patient, it's not hard to get one. My wife and I are both going through that process.
So, gun ownership is fairly easy and common. Carrying guns on a daily basis is much rarer, though not unheard of.
Nova
Member
I've heavily considered purchasing a firearm, but just like LRA, they scare me a bit to much to be an effective tool of self defense. Nothing like coming home late one night when I was a teen, opening the door to a gun barrel in my face and my father all wide-eyed freaking out - woke him up from a bad dream by opening the garage door - to taint your view of them. I wish we had real fazers instead of the wired tazers. I'd so get one of those!
Revyloution
Member
Different states have different requirements Ursa. Some require you take a serious class on how to use a firearm, while other states just make sure your'e not a felon.
Personally, I wish we would go to a federal license that had a pass/fail test that showed competence with the firearm as well as passing a cognitive test that makes sure the applicant understands the ethical, legal and moral implications of using a firearm.
UrsaMinor
Member
I know the requirements vary from state to state. I think it makes sense to require anyone who wants a gun permit to prove basic competency with a firearm (at the very least, you should have to demonstrate that you know how to handle it safely, even if you can't hit the broad side of a barn with it). I just think that it would make no sense if you could get a regular permit simply by passing a background check to show that you're not a felon, but have to prove that you're a good shot in order to carry a concealed weapon. Your marksmanship seems completely irrelevant to whether or not you should be permitted to conceal your weapon.
Personally I think basic competency means you CAN hit what you're aiming at, within reason of course. If you are carrying a concealed weapon, and ever need to use it, there's a good chance you are going to be in a populated area, not in your own home. So it seems to make sense that you should be able to put your shot where it belongs and not in some other random location.
Just my half-cent worth ;)
You must log in to post.
