Czech Republic: not just awesome guns, but awesome gun laws!

[nyrifleman]

Well, relatively speaking. It's kinda hard to beat the good ole United States, but the Czechs are eons ahead of their European neighbors. Check this out:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_the_Czech_Republic

My favorite quote from the article:
"Carrying concealed weapon is not the subject of controversy in the Czech Republic probably because in reality it does not cause any trouble."

Also:
-> Carrying guns in schools and on campuses is not prohibited.
-> Carrying guns into bars is not prohibited, though carrying while intoxicated is verboten.
-> Carrying into courts and to political demonstrations is forbidden
-> Interestingly, to be allowed to carry concealed you need to demonstrate a certain level of proficiency: hitting a 50x50cm target at 10m with a pistol, and a similar target at 25m with a shotgun. Not difficult at all. Though I wonder if young people are allowed to practice with parents' firearms or at shooting clubs.

The explanation for this unusual attitude (for Europe) is that many people wanted to be armed after the collapse of the communist regime, and the long history of firearms manufacture and shooting sports.

Just an informative tidbit I came across that I wanted to share.

 

[Ryanxia]

Pretty neat. And while I understand the reasoning behind proficiency before carrying I don't agree with it. My grandfather probably couldn't hit an 8" target at 10yds at this point in his life but he carries and could hit someone 5-10 feet in front of him about to attack him. That and he still has better common sense/judgement than many 'normal' folk

 

[mortablunt]

I've been posting about the Czech Republic for a while now. The only time there you cannot carry a weapon is to a protest. Of all the countries I've ever been to, I think that I felt the safest in the Czech Republic. Granted, my father did have his wallet snatched there, but there wasn't any sort of confrontation or assault on him. There's a Czech guy over at Gun Rights Media who could tell you more.

 

[Sam1911]

You could always chat a bit with member Bohemus, who lives there.

Believe it or not, he's a bit of a CZ fan...

 

[El Tejon]

So, the gun laws of the Czech Republic are better than Texas?

Wonder what grade the Bradys give to it?

 

[Loosedhorse]

Let's cut to the chase: If I go to CR, can I bring my gun and carry? If so, I'm impressed--and I will plan a trip there; if not, well...

I'm told that in apartheid South Africa, if you had a valid passport (and were not black! ), you could legally carry concealed. I guess even the meanest, thorniest tangle has a rose somewhere.

 

[Bohemus]

There is already one thread about it on THR: Czech firearm laws

nyrifleman: Just some corrections: The "proficiency" you mentioned is required for all forms of gun licence (written test about laws, gun terminology and firtst aid; practical part consisting of gun manipulation, fieldstrip and target score) - not much difference if you want to buy singleshot .22lr sport rifle or CZ 75 for CCW. Thats in sharp contrast with our southern neighbour Austria (France and Norway are similar) where you can buy shotgun or rifle over the counter just presenting your ID that you are over 18, but pistol or even ccw is (far) more problematic. Slovakia and Estonia have analogous laws, just little bit harder to carry.
You can shoot without gunlicence under supervision of licence holder, those under 18 can shoot only under supervision of someone who has gun licence for more than 3 years (not really enforced).


Loosedhorse Would any US state accept my ccw permit issued in CZ? I dont think so. You can bring your gun for sport events, sadly not for defence:-/ You can carry double shot blackpowder derringer though, or sword

 

[Loosedhorse]

Would any US state accept my ccw permit issued in CZ?

I wasn't going for fairness, I was going for fantasy.

But the answer to the question you almost asked is "Yes & No." I don't believe that AK or VT would have any problem with a visiting CR citizen carrying concealed, or that AZ and AK would have a problem with you carrying openly.

But there is apparently a federal law that does not allow legal nonresident aliens to bring guns except for hunting (in possession of a valid hunting permit) and competition (in possession of registration/invitation to the competition). Source.

Like I said: back in the day, I was told, there was legal concealed carry for legal (white) aliens visiting South Africa. It was an anomaly then, and just a fantasy now.

 

[hermannr]

You can OC in several states on your passport. No license required. Here in WA there are particular recreational activities (like even hiking and horseback riding) where you can CC as well as OC without a license.

The problem is not the carry, it would be all the paperwork comes with trying to bring your weapon into the country. Can be done, but it is a lot of paperwork. Easier if you are competing and are guaranteed to take it back out of country with you.

Oh yes, may I add: It is possible to purchase a firearm here on your passport.

Acually, you can bring a firearm in from out of country without being a hunter or competitive shooter...it's called importation...and it is a lot of paperwork and only a few FFls will do it for you.

 

[NoirFan]

Very interesting! I have met a few Czechs in the past year, and all of them have demonstrated a national pride in their country's arms manufacture and hunting traditions. When the conversation naturally turned to the Czech-made weapons I own, they all knew about the maker CZ BRNO and they all were proud that a foreigner would choose to purchase a Czech-made gun. One Czech girl referred to her nation as "people of the trees", referring to their long hunting history.

 

[Loosedhorse]

...it's called importation

I'm not sure if you're saying that a visiting alien can "import" his firearm temporarily--and keep it in his possession, and take it back with him when he returns home--by filling out the right US paperwork; or that a US importer can do it for him and then legally transfer it to the visiting alien; and then export it back at the end of the trip.

But I am suspicious of either claim.

 

[cpt-t]

I really don`t know anything about Czech gun laws, but from the other post`s they must be very reasonable and well thought out (( NO BRADEY BILL STUPITUDY )). But I can tell you that, My SON and I have a modest collection of CZ rifles, and we think they are just (( GREAT ). We have been shooting Cz`s for a long time and have not had one problem. So it appears to me that the CZECHS not only write good gun laws they make truley wonderful riifles
ken

 

[armoredman]

AZ only says you have to be a "person" and not a "prohibited possessor", i.e,

http://www.azleg.gov/ArizonaRevisedStatutes.asp?Title=13

13-3101... Definitions 7. "Prohibited possessor" means any person:...

(e) Who is an undocumented alien or a nonimmigrant alien traveling with or without documentation in this state for business or pleasure or who is studying in this state and who maintains a foreign residence abroad. This subdivision does not apply to:
(i) Nonimmigrant aliens who possess a valid hunting license or permit that is lawfully issued by a state in the United States.
(ii) Nonimmigrant aliens who enter the United States to participate in a competitive target shooting event or to display firearms at a sports or hunting trade show that is sponsored by a national, state or local firearms trade organization devoted to the competitive use or other sporting use of firearms.

If you can meet that legislative hurdle, then I believe you fall under this one,

13-3102. Misconduct involving weapons; defenses; classification; definitions
A. A person commits misconduct involving weapons by knowingly:
1. Carrying a deadly weapon except a pocket knife concealed on his person or within his immediate control in or on a means of transportation:
(a) In the furtherance of a serious offense as defined in section 13-706, a violent crime as defined in section 13-901.03 or any other felony offense; or
(b) When contacted by a law enforcement officer and failing to accurately answer the officer if the officer asks whether the person is carrying a concealed deadly weapon; or...
4. Possessing a deadly weapon or prohibited weapon if such person is a prohibited possessor; or

I think you would have a loophole there, and might explore that further, but with the proposed new 4473 form showing a way for nonimmigrant aliens to lawfully purchase firearms here, I can see how you could lawfully come to AZ and enjoy the desrt legally armed. Just read up on our laws first, and be ready to barbecue! Please be sure to get with an actual lawyer first - I am NOT an attorney at law nor do I play one on TV!

Back to the Czech Republic, you have no idea how much I would love to visit your country, and see the CZ-UB factory in Prague, maybe even try to con my way inot the CZ gunsmith course. Beautiful country, outstanding guns, excellent beer, what's not to love?

 

[towboat_er]

And pretty girls too..

I wann go too.

 

[armoredman]

I'm married, not allowed to mention the beautiful bountiful Czech lasses.

 

[Bohemus]

And pretty girls too..

Confirmed

 

[Nordeste]

Interesting enough. And embarrassing enough for me as a fellow European.

Bohemus, hope you don't mind me if I ask what are the legal requirements for a civilian to obtain a concealed carry permit in the Czech Republic. Over here, a CCW permit for a civilian is seldom granted. People like jewellers, gun-shop owners, judges, prosecutors and the like sometimes get them, but it's a big no-no for the average civilian.

Agree, though, on the quality of CZ firearms and on the beauty of your women .

 

[Nordeste]

I recently opened a thread at TFL about gun friendly/unfriendly States in the US, and about my will to travel to America (whenever financially possible) and spend some time there. It was quite an interesting conversation, and some of the folks there pointed that as a foreigner and tourist, I would be allowed to carry firearms in some States. That was a thing that shocked me, in the positive sense of it.

I'm a cop by profession and obviously, can carry a firearm for protection here. Does that mean that some States would admit my national permit and allow me to carry a firearm? .

 

[Twmaster]

Nice video. Hot guns. Hot gals.

I'm a proud Czech firearm owner. I'd love to visit The Czech Republic.

 

[HankB]

back in the day, I was told, there was legal concealed carry for legal (white) aliens visiting South Africa. It was an anomaly then, and just a fantasy now.

I hunted in RSA in 1989, and took a handgun along. No problem with entry - just filled out a form on arrival - and as for carry, it had to be concealed, not out in the open, except when I was in the hunting field.

At the time I lived in MN, which didn't yet have proper CC legislation on the books, so in that respect, I had more rights in RSA than I did in the USA.

 

[Bohemus]

Nordeste: Greetings to Spain.
Requirement are as stated in the wikipedia article - 21 years, clear(there are some exceptions) offence register, slightly better test and shooting score than for plain sport gunlicence and thats all. That means out of 310,000 licenced shooters, 234,000 got licence to carry. Generally speaking every 44th Czech can carry firearm. I'am not VIP, politican, prosecutor, bureaucrat, rich bussinesman etc., just student.

This is sample of gunlicence I randomly found via google (not gonna post mine on internet)- letters A,B and E suggest that she has A- collector licence, B- sporting licence and E - for defence of life, health and property.
With our admission to EU, we had to ad one bureaucratic **** into our legislation - permission to purchase for B class weapons and separate permission to carry. So you need to ask for the permission to buy gun for defence purpose, preferably right with application for gunlicence and they will write on back side "Permited to carry B class weapon" :

Shooting someone in defence is quite tricky - certain prosecutors and judges are reasonable, many don't :-/ (better badly jailed than well dead)
Recent event which looks quite good for shooter.

 

[snakeman]

that's one good lookin license!

 

[mp510]

For those of us that don't speak Czech, what are endorsements C, D, and F?

 

[Nordeste]

Bohemus, thanks for your quick answer .

Read that link. Hope the defendant is lucky and gets away successfully with no charges, because that " the investigation continues to find out whether the shooter defended himself by adequate means" doesn't sound good. It sounds bad because here, we've had officers charged in court for defending themselves with a firearm from an attack with a blade gun. As stupid as it sounds. "Adequate means"?. I wonder what means they'd suggest a person uses if found in such a situation, but as you say, better have your family bring you cigarettes to prison, than flowers to your grave (that is the Spanish version of the same thing).

What about defending your home from invasions?. Is trespassing enough of a reason to shoot whoever breaks in?.

 

[ExTank]

Just some corrections: The "proficiency" you mentioned is required for all forms of gun licence (written test about laws, gun terminology and firtst aid; practical part consisting of gun manipulation, fieldstrip and target score) - not much difference if you want to buy singleshot .22lr sport rifle or CZ 75 for CCW.

And if it weren't for a raft of anti-guin types with powerful legislators in their pockets, just itching to hijack the licensing system and turn it into a tool of a de facto gun ban, I wouldn't have much problem with this system here in the U.S.

Bohemus, do you Czech's have to deal with your equivalent of Sarah Brady and Chuck Schumer?