Big difference between the RIGHT to own a gun (USA) and the PRIVILEDGE to own a gun elsewhere.
Same goes for our roads here, a bicyclist has a RIGHT to be on the road, while for a motorcyclist or car driver it is a PRIVILEDGE.
What is the difference?
Where I grew up owning a gun was a priviledge, it meant a background check, a competency test and a permit for each and every firearm. One could carry conceiled, but the permit for each gun was part of one's identity document and it had to be available to show on request. If a firearm was lost or stolen, it had to be reported immediately. In that case neglegence could be a criminal offence. Each firearm was registered in a central database, to its owner, with a bullet print through the barrel.
So in short, provided one was of sound character and competent, the only difference to the US carry permit was that each firearm could be traced back to its owner immediately and in case of a crime the bullet barrel print could help identify who pulled the trigger.
I have no opninion about the RIGHT but one thing I never understood is why it is OK to carry a firearm non conceiled, but pull your shirt over the firearm, then you need a permit. Makes no sense to me.
All that said, my utomost simpathy to NZ.
