Who else collects military handguns?

[Dom]

Hello Adam, don't mind explaining at all , or at least try to. I'm US Army retired, working for Dept of Def Overseas, which really doesn't matter what you are over here if you want to own handguns, you have to follow the 'system' of the country you reside in. There are two ways in Deutschland:

1) As a sportshooter, you must belong to a Club, rent a specific caliber handgun, practice for 6 months to a year -- to show a need. After that, you may purchase that caliber handgun, let's just say a .22. You can't take it home though until it is registered, so you have your receipt, fill out a form or whatever, take it to the local Amt where you live and register it. With it registered, you may take it home. But not just lay it around, it must be secured in a waffenschrank (gunsafe), with access to the safe only by you. OK, so you want more? You must continue to provide the 'need', i.e., register in shooting events, etc. I'm not sure on the sportsshooters system, so I'm not sure if there is a limit to what you can own, other than you must continue to shoot or you no longer have the need and then lose your weapons.

2) As a hunter, you are allowed to register 2 handguns off your hunting license. More than that and you must have a need. Basically because hunters sometimes have the need to give the finishing shot to wounded game, they can carry a pistol/revolver with them while hunting.

Ya, we gotta jump through some hoops, ya know, but it can be done and there are a lot of shooters over here. Whether you agree to it or not is up to you, but if you are serious about shooting you must follow the law or don't shoot. There is one way to shoot without owning weapons, and that is rent a handgun or rifle/shotgun at the local American Rod and Gun Club (provided you are a member w/ID Card), purchase your ammo, and shoot at the Club.

Anyway, that's kind of brief, but you get the picture. It's hardest on the military because it takes time, but if you are here for 3 or more years, it is worth your effort -- that is, if you remain without getting deployed and have the time!!

No matter the country you reside in, I think that's fair to follow their rules. You can't go live in a foreign country and just because that's not how you did it where you came from try and change the law. And the same applies wholeheartedly to the USofA -- if you choose to live there, follow the laws present without trying to change the law to suit your needs. If you don't like it, go back where you came from.

Anyway, getting a little sidetracked, but hope this explains a little bit how some other countries control weapons, Waidmannsheil, Dom.