On social media, links to a New York Times article about the process to legally buy a gun in fifteen different countries are being posted by gun-control supporters.
--But even the NYT piece admits that illegal purchasers in any of those countries don't have to do anything but hand over cash and take their gun. All those lovely, well-meant laws and requirements are no barrier to sellers and buyers who won't abide by them.
And never mind that the home-inspection requirements of many nations violate the Fourth Amendment. I guess we're not supposed to notice that.
Yeah. Criminals ignore laws. Who knew?
ReplyDeleteI thought the definition of the word would do.
Out of curiosity, I read the article.
ReplyDeleteI can safely tell you that the section on Australia is almost complete fabrication, and that the truth is MUCH more restrictive.
What they say, followed by the truth (in italics) for my home state of WA:
1. Join and regularly attend a hunting or shooting club, or document that you are a collector.
Joining and attending a club is only a requirement for purchasing handguns. There is no requirement for hunting club membership for longarms, although you will likely have to supply evidence that you have a place to hunt by way of a "property letter" from a property owner. In all cases you have to provide a "good reason" for the gun purchase, and "self-defence" is EXPLICITLY stated as not being a valid response.
2. Complete a course on firearm safety and operation, and pass a written test and practical assessment.
There is no mandated training course. For first time firearm purchasers, there is a written test of 25 questions: no more than three wrong, and answers to the first five questions must be correct. Passing this test is required as part of being granted a "Firearms license". There is no practical test for longarms, and a club-developed and administered test for handguns. Some other jurisdictions have a requirement to pass a "wild-life recognition test" for longarms - usually duck species for shotguns.
3 Arrange firearm storage that meets safety regulations.
I would delete the word "safety", but otherwise true. This will require a "Statutory Declaration" (ie a sworn statement), with photographs, and may include an actual inspection by police. Why remove "safety"? Simply because a safe with 3 mm thick steel walls meets requirements, but 6 mm thick walls do not. It's not about safety.
4 Pass a review that considers criminal history, domestic violence, restraining orders and arrest history. Authorities may also interview your family and community members.
In other words, a background check, although more akin to that for a security clearance than simply checking an arrest record or looking up a database.
5 Apply for a permit to acquire a specific type of weapon.
Not true. You apply for permission to purchase A SPECIFIC FIREARM by make, model, caliber, and serial number. Some types of firearm are effectively banned - semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, pump-action shotguns, full-automatic anything, handguns over .38" bore, short-barreled handguns, magazine capacity over 10 rounds. This application is lodged at a post-office, and a fee of about $200 applies.
6 Wait at least 28 days.
True for a first gun, but not so for subsequent. You have to contact the licensing authority after 28 days to tell them that you wish to proceed - it's not automatic. Once approved, a replacement firearms license will be posted to you, with the new firearm included. All firearms you are permitted TO POSSESS (different in law to TO OWN) are listed.
7 Buy the specific type of gun for which you received a permit.
Not true. Since the application is for a specific firearm, you have already bought it. The new license authorises you to POSSESS it and thus COLLECT it from a licensed dealer. You MUST take it straight home and store it in your approved storage container. Although private sales are allowed, the transactions must go through the record books of a registered dealer (for a fee).