Landuse, Are you able to defend your family and home with guns from this high crime rate? What are your carry gun laws? And home protection gun laws? Self Defense laws? are guns abundent like it the USA?
Also what do they do to you if you break the gun laws? And what do you think the crime problem is?
Sorry for all the questions. I just think about the laws all the time for I carry. Now days in the USA you better know when and when you cannot use a gun. Each case is different as well. There lots a gun owner needs to know and learn before he uses a gun for self defence. Just from some of the post in this thread on other country gun laws has me thinking good and bad on gun views. I would love to hear your laws if you do not mind?
Last month or so a local guy got 30 day in jail for shooting a pit bull that was going to attack him. Kids were near by so he got some kind of charge. I will see if I can find it.
Found it: This just goes to show you can go to jail from saving your life from a deadly dog in the street in front of your own home. Each case is different so there is so much to learn and factor in. There is more to the story but I cannot find the main page for some reason. There was lots of fuss over this case. They judge said some crazy stuff that pissed off the pro gun people.
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2012/05/clackamas_county_roundup_estac_6.html
Full story
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2012/05/estacada_man_gets_jail_time_fo.html
This is what they judge said that people and I do not agree with. Cases like this can go bad fast if you have liberal judge. But at the same time laws are laws and you must know them.
"I'm shocked," Norby said. "No one goes out with a full clip (in a gun) to garden unless they intend to use it."
Bighead, we can own guns here, and we can carry guns if you have the right permit. The problem here is that they have really cracked down on who can get a gun licence, and what you have to do to get one. It is very difficult now. Generally you are declined a licence. If you are a hunter, it is a bit easier.
If you do own a gun, by law you need to have a gun safe in your house where the gun needs to be. If it is just lying around and the cops show up, you are in big trouble. This, in my mind, defeats the purpose. What if a guy breaks in. Are you going to ask him just to wait for a minute while you get your safe keys, open the safe, and then shoot him? Not going to happen.
The problem here in SA, is that there are so many illegal guns in the country that it makes no difference that getting a licence is so hard. For every person who has a licence, there are 10 that own an illegal one. The cops are also terrible at any sort of policing. There are so many guns around that anyone can get one illegally if you know how.
Another problem here in SA, is the trend towards violent crime, not just ordinary crime. A case in point would be a typical car hijacking. They lie in wait for you near your driveway, and when you pull up they jump out, order you out the car,
shoot you, and then take your car. They could just have taken your car, but they shoot for no reason. Or they break into your house and
shoot you and
then rob you. They could just as easily have tied you up and left you. They might even rape your wife and daughters while they are about it.
I personally do not own a gun, and never will. I would be blood guilty if ever I had to take someones life. I try protect myself through having a dog, a big fence round the property, a house alarm, and good locks on the doors. Unfortunately, no matter what you have, if the burgler is determined enough they are going to get in.
If you break the gun laws, the cops can put you away for a while, but generally they don't. The government has had a few "amnesty" periods where you could give in all your illegal guns to the cops, no questions asked. A lot of guns were handed in, but personally I think they were more the sports type rifles that have been handed down from father to son, and for which you probably wouldn't get a licence for anyway. I think all the handguns that real criminals use are still being used.
One thing that gets to me here, is that if a guy breaks into your house, you both shoot each other and get wounded. The criminal will be sent to a top class hospital and get the best care, while you have to pay your own way if you can. If you don't have medical insurance, you are going to go to the worst hospital, and get the worst care, while the criminal goes to the best hospital and pays for nothing. You then also have to prove that you shot the guy in self defence!! The dude is in your house!!!Crazy
I think if that case about the dog being shot happened here, everything would have been fine. As long as your gun had been licenced and was not illegal, you would be fine
The crime here is bad, and it is violent crime, but I still love living here. Each country has their own problems, and if I move I will just be trading one set of problems (that I know) for another set.
