I’ve been thinking about something and want to check an assumption I have. I only hear directly from other people in the USA, and interract with the global community through memes. How are the gun regulations/laws different from yours in terms of strictness, and do you wish there was more or less where you live?
Not looking for a debate here, discuss cold drinks vs hot drinks instead. Appreciate either answer. ❤️
Edit: Thanks for the answers all. I’m super proud how productive eveyone kept this talk. I figured most of you had very different experiences than I. I’ll share my most recent experience. I don’t have a firearm, but have considered it after being trained enough. When sharing this with “normal” people around town, I had multiple people offer to sell or gift me a gun where the serial number was scratched off and non-traceable. I ofter heard, “oh man, yeah. You need a gun.” I have literally never needed one. The fact that people offer to give me one when I don’t have a liscence or training shows the mindset of the minority here and how much of a problem a few individuals can make to safety within the current system.
Just chiming in to say this is a great question, and I hope you get quality answers.
The UK has really strict laws on firearms AFAIK, you have to either apply for a certificate from the police or surrender them even if you’re an antique collector. The government website ofc does into more detail. I’m not really involved in the firearms debate, so I can’t say if I want more or less. I will say there’s a lot of knife crime in the UK though, enough for it to be a common occurrence on local news and a meme in online circles.
I’m not from here, but in Svalbard, a firearm is a legal requirement due to the bears in the area, but even then the use of it should be a last-resort if all the other bear deterrents have failed. Tom Scott’s got a good video on it.
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Tom Scott’s got a good video on it
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Theres far less knife crime in the UK than gun crime OR knife crime in USA
The differences between victim survey statistics and crime reporting statistics are not easy to explain. In the US, trends in victim reporting tend to lead law enforcement statistics by a year or two, which makes one wonder whether law enforcement is padding the numbers – either to make themselves look good (when crime is increasing according to victim reports and it would reflect badly on them if LE statistics followed suit), or to make themselves look necessary (when victim-reported crime is going down and LE statistics might make LE look redundant).
I’m not really involved in the firearms debate, so I can’t say if I want more or less.
There’s not really a huge debate as I think most people are fine with the current status quo.
From my own perspective guns were more available and used more casually by criminals before the 1997 legislation in the wake of the Dunblane massacre. Afterwards it was much less of an issue. If you really wanted one you could get one I’m sure but the cost (financial and risk) has gone up making it less of an option for petty criminals. Now you usually here of gun violence between gangs.
Also knife laws are pretty strict for anything not a pocket-knife and certain length the last time I looked into buying something.
It’s not necessarily that much stricter in Europe. It’s just guns for self-defense, isn’t a thing.
Their are guns everywhere, and everyone who needs a gun has one.
It just stops the random fuckers getting their hands on one for no good reason. Also, automatic weapons are for killing humans. Why even sell those.
You really can’t generalize for Europe. Countries here differ vastly both in regards to laws and gun ownership rates.
It’s just guns for self-defense, isn’t a thing.
Not really, it is a thing in Switzerland and Czechia for example.
And even outside of that, not every country has laws as strict as Germany or UK.
I believe they are the only 2 countries, so I feel my generalisation is acceptable.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overview_of_gun_laws_by_nation
USA: No permit required for semi-automatic long guns and hand guns
Europe: Allowed with permit – good reason (like sport shooting license or proving danger to life required)
So what you say is bullshit.
I have lived in Switzerland.
They have mandatory service and many people choose the military service option.
As I understand it, they get basic training and then do annual service. Most people seem to enjoy this as they serve with people from where they grew up and hae a lot of fun (and beer).
Each of these people has a military rifle in their home (and uniform, etc) with live ammo. They are a standing army. A well ordered militia, maybe?
You often see them on the train in fatigues with their weapon on the way to training.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryPorn/s/I1GLtIcQ4c
While the Swiss do tragically have “mass shootings”, they are not US style terror attacks, typically: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_Switzerland
Swiss here, quick correction. Yes, we have the rifles in our attics and basements, but, generally, no ammo is given out. You get that at the armory when you go to mandatpry training or in case of emergency.
Which is probably why the last mass shooting was some 20 years back.
As I understand it, people can buy ammunition in Switzerland. Here’s a FAQ from a Swiss gun store (in English) saying that ordering ammunition online requires a copy of an ID card and proof of residency.
The store sells .223 Remington ammunition which can be fired from the Sturmgewehr 550 service rifle.
What are the gun ownership rules for people who do not choose the military service option?
No idea, I was there as a cook for under two years. Guys I worked with had to do military service so we discussed it.
Found this: https://www.ch.ch/en/safety-and-justice/owning-a-weapon-in-switzerland/
