Comments on: Myths of European Gun Laws

By: Toddy Cat

Toddy Cat — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 17:47:14 +0000

Thanks, XXX. As noted, those of us who advocate firearms rights can’t be too careful about this stuff. Gun “control” advocates are forgiven all their misstatements — we’re forgiven nothing. That’s OK, we have the truth on our side, but we have to make sure we tell it. We can leave the “noble lies” to the Commies.

By: XXX

XXX — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 17:05:59 +0000

They are wrong when they say “Austrians require permits for semi-automatic pistols but not to buy a revolver.” Handguns in general, pistols or revolvers, belong to category B, and for that you need a special license. The only type of revolver that you may own that does not “count” in your “license book” is the black powder from before 1900 or something like that, but to buy then you still need a license.

By: Isegoria

Isegoria — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 20:05:43 +0000

Wikipedia provides an overview of gun laws by nation — but, as we've seen, a quick overview can give the wrong impression.

By: Mike in Boston

Mike in Boston — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 18:00:15 +0000

Toddy Cat: +1. The article is, unfortunately, too thin on supporting details and citations. I know many reflexively anti-gun folks (didja notice my location?) and they also tend to be knee-jerk pro-European. So I’d find it truly rewarding to see how much cognitive dissonance they’d get reading a more in-depth exploration of gun laws in Italy, Austria, etc. Unfortunately they’d too easily be able to dismiss the linked article as propaganda from the dreaded gun lobby.

By: Isegoria

Isegoria — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:12:47 +0000

When the article says that "there is no restriction on other rifles or on handguns" in other (very similar) calibers, I think that means that you do need a special license to own a military-caliber weapon, but you don't need a special license, just an ordinary one, to own a (very similar) weapon of a different (very similar) caliber.

By: Grasspunk

Grasspunk — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:57:47 +0000

France eased up its gun regs last year. I think there are only four calibers in the military section now, and that includes .50 cal. All these .303s and Mausers are now classified as hunting weapons and much less restricted. Our local gun club has all sorts shoot there.

I’d say the big difference they skim over is you can’t carry them around with you unless you are transporting them from home to the gun club or gun shop. Or hunting. At home they are supposed to be locked up, although every farm has its battery of shotguns, often up on the wall.

By: Toddy Cat

Toddy Cat — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:55:05 +0000

Too bad. There are so many lies circulated by the anti-Gun nuts out there, it’s really important that our side get it right.

By: Praetor

Praetor — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:57:02 +0000

“But there is no restriction on other rifles or on handguns in, for instance, .380, .38 Super, 9mm Ultra and many more powerful handguns e.g., any of the magnums or .40 S&W, .45 auto, .45 Long Colt, .454 Casull, .460 S&W Magnum, 475 Linebaugh, .480, .500 and other powerful handguns.”

That is, unfortunately, complete and blatant lie. Even in the gun heaven of Europe, the Czech Republic, you need gun license for any of these.