NationStates

Which types of firearms, people are allowed to own? If yes, is the license, no criminal records etc. required?



In Marsoslavia, normal people are allowed to own the firearms developed in 1945 or before, or their copies (excluding the rocket launchers, grenade launchers and flamethrowers), which are popular (especially: MP 40, PPSH 41, Gew98 etc.) without license, but to buy the ammunition, you must have the license and have no criminal records. They are also allowed to own the short firearms, but there's a license and no criminal records required.

If you are running the shooting range, you can own every firearm, except of grenade launchers, or rocket launchers. To run the places like that, you must also have a license and have no criminal records.

The illegal ownership of firearms is punished by penalty from 6 months to 8 years in prison.

Different regulations exist between the states, though citizen ownership of firearms is permitted on some level everywhere. In general, hunting rifles and most shotguns are the easiest to obtain, handguns are more regulated, and military type weaponry is tightly restricted.

Firearm ownership in the Democratic Republic is considered to be a privilege that one can earn rather than an inherent right.

Under the current laws, only firearms classified as hunting rifles, shotguns, or pistols can be legally owned by civilians once they have acquired a firearm ownership license. In order for a Gandoorese citizen to acquire a license, they must meet the following requirements:
- They must be at least 20 years of age
- They must be a citizen of Gandoor
- They must pass a firearm safety test with 100% accuracy
- They must pass a mental health check
- They must pass a background check (those with felonies are prohibited from owning firearms)
- They must register with a licensed firearm ownership organization

Once a citizen has their license, they may purchase a firearm at a licensed dealer. Under the laws, the keeping of a firearm at home is prohibited and all firearms must be kept in a locked safe at the firearm ownership organization when not in use. However, we will admit that this law is often not that stringently enforced as most firearm owners in the Democratic Republic live in rural regions where there may be a significant distance between one's home and their firearm ownership organization, so in many cases, a weekly check-in with one's firearms is considered 'sufficient'.

Unlicensed ownership of firearms can be punished by up to 5 years in a rehabilitation centre and a complete loss of the right to own a firearm in the Democratic Republic.

Under federal law, you must have a license to access firearms - and the only way to gain a license is to do at least 18 months in the military. Or by bribing the right official which is surprisingly common and easy to do.

In terms of what firearms a licensed individual is able to obtain, that differs from state to state. Some more left-leaning states like Saku and Chongluntz prohibit all citizens from purchasing firearms, while others (particularly northern states) have no restrictions whatsoever - if you can show them your license (heck, sometimes even if you can't) they'll let you walk out with your own cruise missile* if you can stump up enough cash.

* Slight exaggeration nowadays - though this did used to happen before the federal government began clamping down on civilian use of weaponry.

No permits are needed to own a firearm .50 caliber and under. Any thing above .50 caliber, a permit is required to own said weapon. No permit is required to own an automatic weapon. If you are mentally unstable or a felon who has commited a violent crime such as rape and murder, you are prohibited from owning any firearm. A background check is required for all purchases and transfer of ownership of firearms.

Only the military has weapons.

Disgraces wrote:Only the military has weapons.

Why only the military? My nation is a military dictatorship and I still permit my citizens to own firearms.

The prerequisite for citizenship is the mandatory two years of public duty—specifically two years of military service. After the tour every citizen is required to keep and maintain their service weapon and related equipment (usually one standard "unit" of ammunition, common spare parts, etc), as well as attend occasional retraining and refreshing courses. In fact the proof of citizenship is possession of the standard service bayonet, which citizens typically carry with them on occasions related to citizenship, e.g. during public voting or elections, while performing public services, etc. As such every citizen possesses at least one firearm and one bayonet and knows reasonably well how to use and maintain them. However citizens are generally not permitted to use their mandatory weapon for private purposes.

Private possession and access to firearms is generally rather open but also highly regulated and documented. Anyone can possess any non-concealable firearm for private purposes, e.g. hunting, sport, hobby shooting, self-defence, collections, etc. Pistols and similar small arms are permitted only under special circumstances and are otherwise reserved for law enforcement. The only real requirements for firearm possession are similar to the requirements for the service weapon mentioned before:

— being sound of mind within a broad but reasonable spectrum (not necessarily neurotypical, but definitely fully developed, mature, and cognizant, e.g. children and teenagers, sectioned or otherwise mentally ill persons, persons suffering from extreme trauma, etc, are never allowed firearms)

— being able to perform with the weapon in question reasonably well upon request, i.e. knowing how to use, maintain, and/or repair the weapon. Generally one is required to attend a firing range at least for 180 minutes annually on at least two occasions (does not have to be consecutive, everyone can allot their time as they prefer, e.g. two times 90 minutes, three times 60 minutes, and so forth). This is in addition to any inspection (law enforcement can officially request that a firearm user attends the police firing range and demonstrates his ability with his weapons, typically once every few years)

— documenting every use of every weapon in one's possession and accounting for every bullet spent (or other ammunition, fuel, etc), e.g. how many times under what circumstance the weapon was discharged or used with a clear paper trail for the ammunition. Failure to account for the ammo results in heavy fines. Failure to document weapon use results in serious legal repercussions. Incidentally the same standards are required of law enforcement, i.e. police personnel and private citizens have the same requirements and obligations for documenting and accounting weapon use.

Firearms ownership is moderately regulated. The vast majority of weapons in Port Webley are owned for hunting game, usually small-caliber rifles and shotguns.

All that is required to purchase a single-shot (break-, bolt-, or pump-action) rifle or shotgun is applying for a General Firearms License (GFL) the local Royal Ranger station. The Rangers will do a background check on you and determine if there are any criminal or mental health reasons why you shouldn't be permitted to own a basic firearm. You must also pass a multiple-choice, open-book test on firearms safety.

An Enhanced Firearms License (EFL) allows you to own pistols in caliber .22 LR, but only for sport, hunting and recreational purposes. The pistols may be revolvers or semi-autos, but are limited in capacity to 10 rounds.

Both the GFL and EFL do not allow you to conceal carry, however you may use your firearms to defend yourself in your home or on your property in absolute emergency situations.

American Pere Housh wrote:

Disgraces wrote:Only the military has weapons.

Why only the military? My nation is a military dictatorship and I still permit my citizens to own firearms.

There is no need for anyone to own weapons, since there is no crime in this nation.

Which types of firearms, people are allowed to own?
The vast majority of people are eligble to own shotguns and sniper rifles.
Individuals with squeaky clean records and strict psychological evaluations can own any weapon other than explosives.

If yes, is the license, no criminal records etc. required?
A license is always required by law.
The license is fairly easy to obtain for non-automatic weapons. If you're not a convicted felon and not extremely mentally ill they're allowed.
For semi-automatic and automatic weapons strict background checks are required.
These are mostly owned by off-duty cops and intelligence officers on leave.
With some exceptions, Munkcestrian citizens are forbidden from owning firearms.

Firearms ownership is unregulated. There is no definition for murder as a crime. Everyone can own handguns of any calibre, and do whatever they like.

Every province in Bushkrub sets their own regulations regarding ownership of weapons. Laws can vary wildly throughout the country. In the province of Magnifica, the minimum age to own a gun is 20 and only handguns are permitted, while in the province of Pentahill, the minimum age to own a gun is 17, and most weapons are permitted including flamethrowers, rocket launchers, machine guns, canons, etc.

TurtleShroomian law defines a firearm as any kinetic weapon that can be fired with discernment. A gun, of course, is a kinetic weapon incorporating a tube from which projectiles are fired using explosive force. (This is why bombs, RPG's, and grenade launchers are not counted, for instance.)

Any adult TurtleShroomer of sound mind and no felony convictions can own any semiautomatic or manual firearm, at any time, in any number, for any reason. Purchasers are simply required to pass a background check to prevent felony and madman sales. There are no background checks for inheritance or gifts. All guns and bullets have serial numbers in case they are used in crimes.
Absent the background check, there are no exceptions, no registries, no permits, and no licenses following.

Automatic weapons can also be owned by civilians, in any number and for any reason, if that person demonstrates an ability to use them. To receive an automated weapon, one must pass a firearms safety test and demonstrate the ability to exercise discernment in firing the gun. No license is needed for the weapon; a certification of passing the test is all that is needed. A TurtleShroomer of sound mind and no felony convictions, having passed this test, can own any number of automated weapons.

TurtleShroom also allows unrestricted use of tasers by anyone. No background checks or anything else are required.

Some Parishes add a "Red Flag Due Process" provision, that works like this: any person can file a public (not anonymous) complaint against a gun owner. The gun owner receives a summons before a court of law within three days. There, with the option of counsel, he directly confronts his accuser and argues his case.

The TurtleShroomian Constitution extends the fundamental right to keep and bare arms to cover ammunition and tasers. It also enshrines automatic weapon ownership.

Strictly speaking Purpelian citizens are going to have a very hard time owning firearms. TLDR the rules are as such:
To own or operate a firearm in Purpelia you need a government issued permit. One permit counts for an infinite number of firearms though. Just like a drivers license. As for buying and owning firearms:

1. If you live in a red zone (near a national park, border or some other area where wildlife or foreigners are a threat) you are allowed to own one hunting type weapon per citizen. So manually operated shotguns, single shot rifles, bolt action rifles and surplus Purpelian semi auto rifles. One per citizen. No other restriction like magazine size, caliber or anything else is applied here.

2. If you do not live in these areas you are not allowed to own functional firearms at all. Non functional trophies are fine.

3. The purchasing of munitions is severely restricted. People in the red zone are permitted to own one full load for their weapon and one full reload. No more. And they can only buy more by trading in the spent casings at a registered dealer. Everyone else can't own ammunition at all. All registered dealers are strictly controlled.

4. Hunting and sports associations have to register with the state. They have special permission to own a certain number of firearms per member as well as a certain amount of munitions. However these may not be removed from their registered shooting or hunting range and must be kept under lock and key in a safe when not in use. As long as all rules are obeyed however they actually have a much higher degree of freedom for buying and owning firearms. So sport shooting and hunting in Purpelia are very much alive as an activity but it is a rent-a-gun type sport. You go to the hunting club, pick a rifle and go hunting. And you hand your rifle and spent casings in when you are done.

In our nation, the right to protect oneself by carrying weapons is enshrined in the Constitution, although at the time it was redacted, it only applied to swords, knives and other bladed weapons.

Concerning firearms, the legislation veries between the states depending on the magazine maximum capacity, the maximum caliber authorized, open carry or concealed carry, ...
However, the background checks and procedures to have a weapon are more or less the same everywhere. They usually include:
- A background check, both by local police and by the Federalis Investigation Bureau.
- A mental health test, to renew every three to five years depending on the state.
-To be 18 years old or older.
-An Astarian Firing Range Federation membership, showing that you are affilitated with a firing range somewhere.
-A bill for a safe to store your weapons.

Usually, young people who complete their Compulsory Military Service are encouraged to keep the guns they get there (an assault rifle/carbine and/or a pistol), if they are cleared to do so after a background check and a medical test at the end of their service.

Every citizen of at least 18 years of age with a clear criminal and psychological record is allowed to have hunting guns, single-shot and semi-automatic guns.

48 hours of training must be undertaken before being able to own a gun and every gun-owner has to join the State Association of Gun Owners or the State Association of Hunters and practice at least 12 hours of training per year for the first 4 years.
One can't own more than 3 magazines or the equivalent per weapon at a time.

Every year they must bring the firearm to a State Civilian Security Force barrack for a check.

There shall be no more than one gun per family member over the age of 18 and they must be stored in a safe place.

Guns can be brought around but not in specific places like some important squares, schools, big markets etc..

Kergstan wrote:Every citizen of at least 18 years of age with a clear criminal and psychological record is allowed to have all guns.

48 hours of training must be undertaken before being able to own a gun and every gun-owner has to join the State Association of Gun Owners or the State Association of Hunters and practice at least 12 hours of training per year for the first 4 years.
Every year they must bring the firearm to a State Civilian Security Force barrack for a check.

Guns must be stored in a safe place.

Guns can be brought around but not in specific places like some important squares, schools, big markets etc..

Fixed it to show my nation’s rules.

In the Kingdom of Purpuria, there's hardly any regulation of firearms and other physical weapons. However, magic is something else entirely. While the existence of magic is publicly known, the use of spells is highly restricted. All magic users must be accredited by the Wizards' Council (Conselho dos Arcanos), and using the powers for evil is punishable by death (normally those who commit crimes are outlawed or exiled, but that's an unacceptable risk if the individual has magical abilities). That's the closest equivalent to "gun control" in Purpuria.

The types of firearms Diarcesians are allowed to own can include (in sparsely-populated areas) military-style firearms such as the AR-556. The number and types of firearms allowed to carry is tied to the location's population density.

Xeloncaresia lacks gun culture. Civilians don’t have the right to firearms in Xeloncaresia. Stores don’t even sell them. Possession of one can result in a minimum 5 years gaol time. Most police officers don’t carry firearms, except special force teams, who are deployed in emergency situations.

AK 47s and guns below that level are legal to own, and to use for legal hunting, target shooting, or in self defense.

Those who are underage, in prison, on probation or on parole, or insane, may not legally have guns.

Tazers are for police and prison guards only, and gas weapons are only for the military in time of war. Certain weapons are so deadly that only the military can have them (things like RPGs, fully functional cannons, land mines ect.)

Some places ban guns for the general public at least-prisons/jails, police stations, courtrooms, certain national parks, kindergartens and schools, mental hospitals, and some government offices.

As it stands now, all firearms require a licence to own, which is only valid for four years. To obtain a licence, one must pass a background check, pass a standardised gun safety test with a perfect score, be of a clean bill of mental health (though exceptions such as for high-functioning people on the autistic spectrum can be made), and not be a convicted felon (this can be waived if someone is granted pardon by the state), and prove that they have a place to keep their firearms. Automatic weapons require a special licence that only lasts for two years, and use and ownership of armour piercing rounds, subsonic rounds, suppressors/silencers, anti-tank weaponry, high explosives, and guns and ammunition of over 12.7mm in caibre are prohibited. Any weapon that violates the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the BWC, the CWC, and the Nuclear NPT are also prohibited. (Duh.)

(From here, let's talk a bit about Palmyrion's weapon culture.)

Outside the legal realm, it is socially unacceptable to be unarmed in public starting from the age of 18. Any weapon that doesn't violate the rule on prohibited weapons will do. If a firearm is not an option, then melee weapons will do, but polearms are socially unacceptable and any weapon that is not being used must be kept sheathed; the choice of melee weapon in Palmyrion is usually a bolo, a type of machete.

Since almost anything up to the size of a small refrigerator can be additively manufactured in a local towns manufacturing center, it is practically impossible to control the printing of weapons, if you have the design you can make a firearm fairly quickly and easily. Certain materials of course are restricted like plutonium and uranium. The ability to print things is often a matter of intellectual property and many firearms designs due to zombie incursions are very readily available and in the public domain.

To quote our nation's constitution: 'The right of the white male to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed by the government in any form', so there are no gun laws for white male citizens.

Other people in our nation however are prohibited from owning firearms.