Just curious. On another bb I frequent, not gun related at all, the topic of carrying came up.
They typical anti arguments were offered up-
We're paranoid, cop or cowboy wannabees, you know the ones.

One person, who is from Austraila said that anyone who felt the need to carry a gun to feel safe should move to a ""nicer" place. Or something to that affect.

Anyway, I'm just wondering if that person even has the option of legal carry.

From what I know from members on other forums, the answer is a BIG NOOOOOO NOOOO

Australia bans most guns. Those who DO get to keep a rifle or shotgun can keep it at their home, I believe, but they need a reason and a permit, (like in the outback). Some are allowed to own handguns, (registered sports & target shooters), but they must be kept at the police station. There are very few. I'm pretty sure that this is close to accurate. Gun crime, per capita, is on a parallel to the US, if not slightly higher.

Thanks! I suspected it was pretty restriced over there.
Makes you wonder how this person became such an expert on the subject of carry, when it's not allowed.

I have discussed this topic with Aussies (and Canadians) on other forums, I think statistics like this are very telling:

Assaults (per capita) by country
#1 South Africa 12.0752 per 1,000 people
#2 Montserrat 10.2773 per 1,000 people
#3 Mauritius 8.76036 per 1,000 people
#4 Seychelles 8.62196 per 1,000 people
#5 Zimbabwe 7.6525 per 1,000 people
#6 United States 7.56923 per 1,000 people
#7 New Zealand 7.47881 per 1,000 people
#8 United Kingdom 7.45959 per 1,000 people
#9 Canada 7.11834 per 1,000 people
#10 Australia 7.02459 per 1,000 people
#11 Finland 5.32644 per 1,000 people

Rapes (per capita) by country
#1 South Africa 1.19538 per 1,000 people
#2 Seychelles 0.788294 per 1,000 people
#3 Australia 0.777999 per 1,000 people
#4 Montserrat 0.749384 per 1,000 people
#5 Canada 0.733089 per 1,000 people
#6 Jamaica 0.476608 per 1,000 people
#7 Zimbabwe 0.457775 per 1,000 people
#8 Dominica 0.34768 per 1,000 people
#9 United States 0.301318 per 1,000 people
#10 Iceland 0.246009 per 1,000 people

Burglaries (per capita) by country
#1 Australia 21.7454 per 1,000 people
#2 Dominica 18.7892 per 1,000 people
#3 Denmark 18.3299 per 1,000 people
#4 Estonia 17.4576 per 1,000 people
#5 Finland 16.7697 per 1,000 people
#6 New Zealand 16.2763 per 1,000 people
#7 United Kingdom 13.8321 per 1,000 people
#8 Poland 9.46071 per 1,000 people
#9 Canada 8.94425 per 1,000 people
#10 South Africa 8.89764 per 1,000 people


This data collected from Nationmaster.com. There is one area where we do rank noticably higher, murder, and gun murder...however we rank #24 and australia ranks #43:

#24 United States 0.042802 per 1,000 people
#43 Australia 0.0150324 per 1,000 people
#44 Canada 0.0149063 per 1,000 people

Of course I like to add in that Mexico rates at #6, and I believe they are fairly restrictive on their gun laws; so maybe it's not just about the guns.

Good data Jeff; thanks for sharing!

I'm going to have to digup the data I used. It was gun crimes only, the US & Australia were almost even. for some reason, the number .045 (rounded) sticks in my mind) IIR, I used stats for the entire country's populations based on the data I found.

Also, I just recently read that the Austrian Police have to leave their weapons at the station and are not allowed to carry them when off duty.

AGRO500 is a member here, and he's a pistol instructor for a security co. in AUS. If I remember right, to own a pistol he has to beling to a shooting club, has to shoot once a month min. Also, if I'm remembering correctly, a recent change was no cal. over .38/9MM. He had some Gold Cups that he had to turn in to the gov't., and got about a dime on the dollar. I remember something about all rifles and shotguns having to be single shot, also. I'll contact him so we can get the correct info.

So what nations allow private ownership of handguns?

Not sure whats involved but there's a SASS chapter in Norway.

http://www.swsnet.org/

Don't some nations require their citizens to at least keep arms at their homes. I thought I read something like that about Israel one time.
But I could be mistaken there. Something seems familiar about it, though.

Israel used to encourage ownership but now they're using public armories overseen by the Ministry of the Interior, particularly in the rural settlement areas. Just about anyone can go in and "check out" a pistol or subgun, just like a library

Switzerland requires that assault rifles be kept at home by regular and reserve soldiers, and gives them the option to buy the firearm once their service has ended (and after the select fire sear has been removed).

Joe,

Every male form 18 to 55 is either active or reserve army in Switzerland they are issued with the latest battle rifles which they keep at home. They are also issued ammunition for regular practice and they are expected to qualify twice each year. Full autos are legal and can be purchased by any citizen. The issue weapons purchased by the retiring soldiers are not converted to semi-auto, as there is no restriction on the FA versions any way.

It's strange, but there is very little crime of any type in Switzerland, I wonder why?
There are however a large number of suicides, but that's more down to the lousy weather....overcast and grey from October to April, they never see the sun.

Are you sure about this, Selurcspi? Everything I've read says otherwise.. like this article from the Dave Kopel at the Second Amendment Project:

"To this day, every male, when he turns 20, is issued a full automatic military rifle and required to keep it at home. Universal service in the Militia Army is required. When a Swiss is no longer required to serve, he may keep his rifle (converted from automatic to semi-automatic) or his pistol (if he served as an officer)."

Also in Larry Grupp's great article in the April 7, 2006 issue of Gun List:

"After retirement, they can purchase and keep their assault rifles, but only after a semiauto kit is installed."