4 ms·

I know the argument here has been towards being able to buy or not a specific platform (AR-15), but I would like to address this: > So yes, you can buy some sp

I know the argument here has been towards being able to buy or not a specific platform (AR-15), but I would like to address this: > So yes, you can buy some specific models of semiautomatic rifles (for hunting), but you can't buy military grade semiautomatic rifles The semi-automatic rifles that you can buy in Portugal include the Remington 700 and the Thompson Performance Center T/C. Both can come chambered in .308 Win or 6.5 Creedmoor. Those cartridges have an immense stopping power and are significantly more powerful than the usual .223/5.56 you see in the AR-15 platform. Looking at hunting stores from Portugal, you can easily see those two rifles with 5 or 10 round magazines, same limits as the AR-15 in California. The Remington 700 has been widely used by the military all over the world, including the US. The M24 sniper rifle is the Remington 700, but with a heavier barrel (in order to use .300 Win which the US Marine Corps preferred). So, why is in your opinion the AR-15 platform "military grade", and the hunting rifles available in Portugal not? Knowing that both platforms have been used by the military in combat situations, and knowing the hunting platforms usually have much more powerful cartridges?

libertine 6y ago
>So, why is in your opinion the AR-15 platform "military grade", and the hunting rifles available in Portugal not? Knowing that both platforms have been used by the military in combat situations, and knowing the hunting platforms usually have much more powerful cartridges? This is a question you'd need to ask to the portuguese authority that manages weapons importation at the customs, which curiously, it's a procedure that must be done in the presence of a customs oficial, an expert of the Police (PSP), and the General Management of Weaponry and Defense Equipment (Direcção-Geral de Armamento e Equipamento de Defesa). So I think it's their opinion and expertise that dictates such decisions? No idea! But I don't see it written anywhere that such specific weapon/platform is banned/forbidden. Curious fact, just came across this information, apparently not so long ago civilians could buy fully automatic rifles in Portugal , you just had to belong to a "club"! It was one of the few countries that allowed that, like Pakistan an Yemen - I had no ideia just found this out. Law changed from pressure of EU and UN.
- jakearmitage 6y ago
  Gun clubs are popular in Europe. In France, until very recently (2017), you could buy an MG42 or a Browning M2. If you bought it before that date, you can still have it, but now full auto is no longer allowed. There are no restrictions on platforms or types of weapons, only on caliber. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contr%C3%B4le_des_armes_%C3%A0_feu_en_France https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contr%C3%B4le_des_armes_%C3%A0... In Switzerland, on the other hand, you can have full auto. Europe is not a gun-free zone like Americans seem to think, from both sides of the aisle.
  - libertine 6y ago
    But the stance is quite different, owning a gun is not a right but more like a privilege. And they're not objects for public display.
    - jakearmitage 6y ago
      Correct on the right/privilege. It is similar to the concept/laws concerning owning a car and driving. If that is a good thing or not, it is up for a different discussion, which I can't participate since I fully agree with you on this point. But on the "objects for public display", I sense some hostility towards guns and gun culture in general. Maybe that's your personal perspective being projected onto the whole? My brother in law is from France and he is a huge gun nerd. His weapons were "objects for public display" just like any other weapon in a gun store in America, but I really miss the point here. Do you feel comfortable around guns? Have you ever experienced a shooting sport? You should definitely try, it is super fun, specially when you have knowledgeable people around. And gun clubs in Europe are super welcoming to new members.
      - libertine 6y ago
        Maybe it didn't phrase myself right, I mean you don't see public display of weapons in the sense of seeing people wielding weapons on the street, you don't see weapons in protests, you don't see people with carry on, no one has weapons on display on their houses and it's not a subject of discussion at a table... it's almost like it's rude (unless it's a meal of people that hunt). I've grown around hunting weapons, mainly shotguns and rifles since my grandfather was an hunter. But all my education revolving weapons is that they are tools - dangerous tools - to hunt. Everyone of my friends I grew up with had family members that hunted, and some of them became hunters themselves. For sport some shoot plates, but a lot of those places closed own over the years due to polution. The weapons body are made of wood and usually have some sort of carving in the metal accents. Hell, some of them were literally works of art - with duck/foxes/boars/deer/flower motives. I dont' recall seeing anyone who had weapons that were "military" style, neither in shape or even color/pattern. Now that I think of it, there was some sort of snob attitude around all of that (like usually only people with a lot of money could buy access to big game properties). At least this is from my life, in my country living on the countryside. Weapons and the subject revolving weapons are limited to specific contexts, so for me it's just odd a lot of what happens in the USA. As a kid I found weapons fun, had air pressured rifles to hunt birds and shoot at targets, airsoft guns, etc.

libertine 6y ago

>So, why is in your opinion the AR-15 platform "military grade", and the hunting rifles available in Portugal not? Knowing that both platforms have been used by the military in combat situations, and knowing the hunting platforms usually have much more powerful cartridges? This is a question you'd need to ask to the portuguese authority that manages weapons importation at the customs, which curiously, it's a procedure that must be done in the presence of a customs oficial, an expert of the Police (PSP), and the General Management of Weaponry and Defense Equipment (Direcção-Geral de Armamento e Equipamento de Defesa). So I think it's their opinion and expertise that dictates such decisions? No idea! But I don't see it written anywhere that such specific weapon/platform is banned/forbidden. Curious fact, just came across this information, apparently not so long ago civilians could buy fully automatic rifles in Portugal , you just had to belong to a "club"! It was one of the few countries that allowed that, like Pakistan an Yemen - I had no ideia just found this out. Law changed from pressure of EU and UN.

jakearmitage 6y ago
Gun clubs are popular in Europe. In France, until very recently (2017), you could buy an MG42 or a Browning M2. If you bought it before that date, you can still have it, but now full auto is no longer allowed. There are no restrictions on platforms or types of weapons, only on caliber. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contr%C3%B4le_des_armes_%C3%A0_feu_en_France https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contr%C3%B4le_des_armes_%C3%A0... In Switzerland, on the other hand, you can have full auto. Europe is not a gun-free zone like Americans seem to think, from both sides of the aisle.
- libertine 6y ago
  But the stance is quite different, owning a gun is not a right but more like a privilege. And they're not objects for public display.
  - jakearmitage 6y ago
    Correct on the right/privilege. It is similar to the concept/laws concerning owning a car and driving. If that is a good thing or not, it is up for a different discussion, which I can't participate since I fully agree with you on this point. But on the "objects for public display", I sense some hostility towards guns and gun culture in general. Maybe that's your personal perspective being projected onto the whole? My brother in law is from France and he is a huge gun nerd. His weapons were "objects for public display" just like any other weapon in a gun store in America, but I really miss the point here. Do you feel comfortable around guns? Have you ever experienced a shooting sport? You should definitely try, it is super fun, specially when you have knowledgeable people around. And gun clubs in Europe are super welcoming to new members.
    - libertine 6y ago
      Maybe it didn't phrase myself right, I mean you don't see public display of weapons in the sense of seeing people wielding weapons on the street, you don't see weapons in protests, you don't see people with carry on, no one has weapons on display on their houses and it's not a subject of discussion at a table... it's almost like it's rude (unless it's a meal of people that hunt). I've grown around hunting weapons, mainly shotguns and rifles since my grandfather was an hunter. But all my education revolving weapons is that they are tools - dangerous tools - to hunt. Everyone of my friends I grew up with had family members that hunted, and some of them became hunters themselves. For sport some shoot plates, but a lot of those places closed own over the years due to polution. The weapons body are made of wood and usually have some sort of carving in the metal accents. Hell, some of them were literally works of art - with duck/foxes/boars/deer/flower motives. I dont' recall seeing anyone who had weapons that were "military" style, neither in shape or even color/pattern. Now that I think of it, there was some sort of snob attitude around all of that (like usually only people with a lot of money could buy access to big game properties). At least this is from my life, in my country living on the countryside. Weapons and the subject revolving weapons are limited to specific contexts, so for me it's just odd a lot of what happens in the USA. As a kid I found weapons fun, had air pressured rifles to hunt birds and shoot at targets, airsoft guns, etc.