Originally posted by TABING
You absolutely cannot legally own a firearm in Kuwait,
I don't doubt your experience, but I will say this:
I was walking along the beach in Fahaheel, south of Kuwait City in the Fall of '99. There in the distance I saw what made me do a serious double take - a GUN STORE. A huge Browning sign dominated the storefront. Winchester, Marlin, etc. signs dotted the windows. I found myself drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Inside - only one gun. The place had a few gun
accessories and also outdoorsy clothing (a lot of Browning stuff). Over the door though was what looked to my untrained eye as a vintage Winchester 1894 rifle encased in glass.
The store owner was a bit freaked out at my presence - and he also spoke little English. I tried to ask him the questions we all would have in mind - but he was no help. I was able to get him to show me catalogs - he had catalogs from many of the major US and European rifle and shotgun manufacturers.
Anyway - it would seem that the right natural born Kuwaiti with the right connections can indeed own a gun - although probably just your basic type hunting guns - and surely with severe costs, restrictions, etc. involved. I never could get a straight answer from anybody - but I figure it's akin to asking some guy off the streets in the US about our Class III laws - most people truly don't know or understand - they assume it is all illegal.
I was with once out with a guy who got hassled by a Kuwaiti cop for having a leatherman. The cop actually told us - when asked - that we would have been equally hassled were he only carrying a screwdriver (why would any law abiding man need a screwdriver, he asked) - it is clear that the concept of individual liberties aren't exactly embraced.
Adam