A hello and a question or two

[bruceflinch]

Gimme a holler when you're in the SF Bay Area.

[CaliforniaLiberal]

Welcome to CalGuns Cousin!

You have not yet experienced True Freedom until you have found a nice empty spot in Nevada (Say for example BLM land off of Highway 50 between Austin and Ely) and shot at thrown Pepsi cans with a shotgun.

And eat at the historic International Hotel in Austin.

There are several valleys where you can see 10 or 20 miles in all directions, nothing but brush and a couple of dirt roads. Just drive away from the highway about half an hour. It's about as safe and isolated as you can be.

[Zdeth]

my 2cents.

A number of years ago, my buddy and I decided to go to the range to celebrate graduating our engineering degrees. Walked in, said "we've never been shooting before, we'd like to rent a pistol.." guy behind counter said "okay... which one?"

So, this was two of us, (not just alone), This was also in N. California, so, idk, probably at gun counter guy's discretion? Dont dress like a gang banger, and don't dress like you're going to a funeral? Hope you enjoy!

[Sajedene]

Personal arsenal.....nothing at all. City dweller who has always been interested in defensive handgun. No need for a shotgun , there are exceptions to the gun ban but never really understood them.

The idea of personal weapons for defence really has never been accepted in the UK . It is so different from any concept of gun ownership as understood in the USA.

I think historically, perhaps until the 1930's then the upper classes owned weapons but not sure on my history at all.

Can I explain my interest logically , probably not.

I just like guns. how they operate, how they feel, how they shoot....so not logical at all !

Generally left wing but believes in the right to bear arms. I like the skill in shooting, the ability to defend oneself but i rarely get the chance to shoot. i have spent money learning to shoot then may not shoot again for a year or so.

Personally i like 1911's. i'd like a good Kimber Ultra Carry . i'd like to be able to go to a range and shoot. Unfortunately never going to be able to here in the UK. Owning such a handgun would mean 5 years in prison. The united kingdom is rabidly ant gun .Could go to Belgium/Switzerland etc but costs far too much.

Makes do with Vacations. would like to attend a shooting school, been looking at the US shooting academy in Tulsa.

Welcome!

And totally not illogical reasons. Not everyone here got into guns for self-defense. I know I didn't. I just enjoy it as a sport/hobby.

And you're not only the "left wing" person here so don't you worry. Booshanky comes to mind He is some kind of awesome even though we are in the opposite ends of the political spectrum.

Check out some of the shoot-n-q's in your area. Meet a bunch of fellow calgunners, as others above me said, plenty are willing to lend their toys out for you to try.

[Peter.Steele]

Personal arsenal.....nothing at all. City dweller who has always been interested in defensive handgun. No need for a shotgun , there are exceptions to the gun ban but never really understood them.

The idea of personal weapons for defence really has never been accepted in the UK . It is so different from any concept of gun ownership as understood in the USA.

I think historically, perhaps until the 1930's then the upper classes owned weapons but not sure on my history at all.

Can I explain my interest logically , probably not.

I just like guns. how they operate, how they feel, how they shoot....so not logical at all !

Generally left wing but believes in the right to bear arms. I like the skill in shooting, the ability to defend oneself but i rarely get the chance to shoot. i have spent money learning to shoot then may not shoot again for a year or so.

Personally i like 1911's. i'd like a good Kimber Ultra Carry . i'd like to be able to go to a range and shoot. Unfortunately never going to be able to here in the UK. Owning such a handgun would mean 5 years in prison. The united kingdom is rabidly ant gun .Could go to Belgium/Switzerland etc but costs far too much.

Makes do with Vacations. would like to attend a shooting school, been looking at the US shooting academy in Tulsa.

Hm.

I've got a friend who lives in, I believe, Kent. He owns at least one M16 or M4, can't recall which exactly, which he keeps at a club or range in France. (And yes, I know what the implications of 'M16' and 'M4' are. I used those designations on purpose.) Apparently he's allowed to do some things in France that he can't do in the UK itself. Not sure what the mechanism is, but it sounds like you could probably just hop a train through the Chunnel if you want to go shooting.

[MP301]

It looks like wiki got there stats from the Brady Bunch. John Lott was just being interviewed a couple of days ago and said the UK's violent crimes as were extremely high. Crimes like burglary are through the roof as well.

In addition, in the US, burglaries that are committed while the dirtbag knows the residents are home is around 12%. In the UK, The dirtbags burglarize knowing people are home at about 70%.

Gee, I wonder why that is? According to said dirtbags in the US being interviewed in prison during an FBI study, its because they dont want to be ventilated by the resident.

[Turbinator]

Folks, I found this on another forum. Check it out:

The only way a nonimmigrant alien can legally rent a filearm in the United States is if they possess a valid hunting license from any State with the United States. If an nonimmigrant alien does not possess a hunting license, then the possession fo the firearm and ammunition will be unlawful. The hunting license does not have to be from the State where the nonimmigrant alien will be possessing the firearm and ammunition. See 18 U.S.C. 922(a)(5) and (9), 922(g)(5)(B) and 922(y).

This is why our friend from the UK is not allowed to go to a range in CA on his own.

Turby

[well206]

Folks, I found this on another forum. Check it out:



This is why our friend from the UK is not allowed to go to a range in CA on his own.

Turby

this is from the ATF website:

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/nonimmigrant-aliens.html#rental-qualifications

would this also cover loan of firearms? or even just bringing a non-immigrant alien with you shooting (even on BLM land)?

[Divernhunter]

Well my ranges are either a private club or a private owned one. I do not have firearms for personal protection or hunting alone. If that was the case I would not need or have well over 100 and all the reloading/shooting stuff I have. I have it and use it as I enjoy just shooting/reloading/collecting.

A day(or part of) at the range is just plain relaxing for me. A day hunting is enjoyable.
I have never looked forward to shooting someone or at them, but was/am prepared to if needed both times.

[Eljay]

"The United Kingdom has one of the lowest rates of gun homicides in the world. The overall homicide rate is also low."

Interesting if true. I knew the gun rate was low but thought the overall homicide rate was fairly high.

You have to be really careful comparing stats across countries. Not every country counts their homicides the same way. I don't know how the UK keeps their stats, but some countries don't count things we would (some of the lower degrees of manslaughter, or cases where the police suspect it was homicide but never name a suspect or are able to prove anything).

Update: And in fact if you click through the link to the Wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_cri...des_by_country they have a warning to that effect. Do also note they're using numbers from a UN report, which sounds a lot more impressive than it actually is - those guys can be incredibly sloppy if it fits their narrative.