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Question to those not in the USA, and who have lived outside the USA. (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by Goldmage263@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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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.

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[–] Rossphorus@lemmy.world 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

New Zealand. Gun laws are pretty strict, though we have lots of farmers who have guns for defending livestock. You can own guns with a valid reason (e.g. recreational shooting, not self defense) but essentially the only two places they can be is in a locked safe or (being transported to) a gun range.

In addition any and all tools and weapons are illegal to carry for the purpose of self defense (knives, pepper spray, tazers, clubs, screwdrivers, etc.). There's a crime epidemic here at the moment, corner stores being robbed by people with machetes, jewelry stores ram raided with trucks, but if you dare even carry pepper spray to defend yourself you can be jailed. Don't bother calling the cops either, they won't be there until at least half an hour later. Cops don't care about robberies. We literally once had the dispatcher tell us that no police would be coming. It's ridiculous.

I wish self defense laws were less crazy here, if someone enters your home or property armed with a weapon you should be able to respond appropriately without fear of going to jail yourself.

[–] livus@kbin.social 7 points 11 months ago (1 children)

@Rossphorus fellow New Zealand here.

If we changed the law and allowed people to buy guns in order to use them on other people, what you would see is every single gang member and wannabe carrying a "self defence" gun by lunchtime.

NZ currently has average gun ownership by OECD standards. Guns are tools not weapons, let's keep it that way.

[–] Rossphorus@lemmy.world 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I never said anything about changing gun laws.

[–] livus@kbin.social 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

Sorry, misunderstood your comment about self-defence laws.

The current law is you can defend yourself using appropriate force to stop the threat. You can use whatever you have to hand.

If you don't want to change gun laws, what would you like to change? Flick knife laws?