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« Antigun group on townhall/tea party meetings | Main | Just when you think you've seen it all... »

Interesting data from the Czech Republic

Posted by David Hardy · 13 August 2009 10:44 AM

Story here. Its population is about ten million. 650,000 citizens are licensed gun owners, and 200,000 have CCW permits. Police say unknown hundreds of thousands have guns without the formality of licensing.

· non-US

6 Comments | Leave a comment

COProfessor | August 13, 2009 2:58 PM | Reply

While traveling to the Czech republic I found them to be very USA-friendly. Some of my best pistols are CZ made, I like them more than my Glocks and are very similar to Glocks. I have thought that if things get worse in the USA the CZ republic may be the country that welcomes freedom.

Kman | August 13, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply

In the Czech Republic they don't issue carry licenses per se - if you are licensed to own a handgun there then you are free to carry it with you loaded and concealed without any additional permit or permission, and they do not have the ridiculous "off limits" areas like in some states in the U.S. (such as state parks, for instance). You can even legally carry into a bar there, although it is considered taboo to do so.

Contrast that with Switzerland, where you cannot carry a loaded handgun for protection without getting a permit, which the government may give or withhold at its discretion and which requires a specific reason to be demonstrated to the government.

Which country is more gun friendly? Clearly the Czech Republic.

I really would like to see a book sometime going over the gun laws of the world. I think gun laws worldwide are a lot more permissive than people think they are. You can legally own a rifle in many European countries. There are a lot of stupid laws out there, and a lot of countries were you cannot legally own much of anything, but there are certainly areas out there that approach the U.S.

And there are some surprises - for instance suppressors are legal and widely used in Finland. Who would have thought? Perhaps outdoor shooting ranges would be better tolerated were we to get over the taboo of suppressed firearms in this country.

And even in countries that are very restrictive, there are a lot of people shooting pellet guns. There are marksmen all over the place in the world. When the U.K. banned private ownership of handguns, handgunners changed over to pellet gun replicas there and practice in their apartments. They may get more practice time in than Americans do, albeit with pellet guns instead of full power firearms. They are still practicing and keeping their marksmanship current. Who knows, the UK may repeal their handgun ban someday, and these guys will still be in practice.


JustinGA | August 13, 2009 8:41 PM | Reply

It's good to see that America isn't so unique after all!

ed | August 14, 2009 10:39 AM | Reply

how sad for America when people in the Czech Republic are more free when it comes to guns than in any of the progressive US cities.

P.M. | August 15, 2009 9:55 AM | Reply

You know, the Czech Republic's really a great country. Consider:

- Long tradition of building EXCELLENT guns, continuing today
- Strong gun carry rights
- World's best beer
- Highest per capita beer consumption
- Beautiful supermodels

And an completely impenetrable language, but hey, no one's perfect.

Peter | February 16, 2011 4:23 AM | Reply

There are only 300,000 licensed gun owners in the Czech Republic. 650,000 is number of licensed guns. CCW is not automatic right for gun license owner. It depends od gun license category (collecting, sport, hunting, for person's occupation and self defense ). Conditions to get "self defens" category are almost same as for other categories so it's reasonably to get at least collecting, sport and self defense. But we also need buy/carry permission for every gun, but it's just formality. Police don't have authority to reject it. There are no restrictions for carried guns type. If it's not prohibited weapon (assault rifles, SMGs, rocket launchers and so on...) i can carry it. I can go to the police station, ask for buy/carry permission for M82 barrett and I will get it. Impossibility of concealed carrying is my problem.

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