> ... Really? It's one lock and they make you bolt it to the floor so people can't just pick up the safe and go. You can get them for <$200.

It was more of a joke. I personally keep more locks on my firearms then would be mandated by the NZ Police. (One in the action, on on my ammo container, and one on the room storing them)

> .. But you wouldn't. Because he was brandishing a knife.

> It covers anything that hinders your livelihood. We fly people to other countries for experimental cancer treatments and to Australia that we don't have an available specialist to perform.

I have to say, you do have me on those two accounts.

> Or the populace feels they have evolved past the point where physical violence is required for their own safety and government control. We don't believe we'll need to physically harm or protect ourselves from the government.

I don't feel that firearms being regulated is evolution in the right direction. What I feel is evolution in the right direction is evidently your social programs. That represents one of the things I'd call "the right evolution". I feel that you could create a country just as safe, if not safer, if you had all of the social programs of your country with most of the firearms laws remove.

> I agree with you on banning based on the "looks" of a firearm. And I agree that there are a lot of people who could responsibly own any gun. There's also a lot of people who could responsibly own nuclear materials, butterfly knives and high powered lasers. And you can own those things.. With proper reason and licensing and registration to do so.

From what I understand is that you are focusing on the licensing side of things. Again, I can pass any licensing criteria needed (no criminal history, no mental health background, I am interested in this as a profession and as a hobby). I also have absolutely no problem with licensing on ownership and background checks. What I do have a problem with is their implementation.

My idea scenario:

- Join a club and go through their mandatory safety course (every range has one of these in the States) (Usually free)
- Log 1hr with rifles and 1hr with pistols at a range while being supervised by the RSO (must have a sign off by the RSO). (~160 USD)
- Get printed by the police and have them run a background check (~100 USD)
- Wait for check to clear (current system takes anywhere from 1 minute to 1 week from personal experience)
- If you come up clean, get a modified drivers license that says "certified for firearms purchasing and ownership" (5 USD for DMV to print a new ID)

As long as you have that card, you should be able to engage in the purchasing of firearms in my opinion. But, here in lies the problem. In almost every state in the US this is not possible! You cannot go to a range and shoot their rifles without first having a firearms purchaser ID.

In my mind, why would I go to the range for training with their guns when I can just buy my own! And bam! Now I'm not a safe firearms owner and instead I am a statistic for Aggregate Negligent Discharges.

I am fine, 100% with needing licensing and printing, and proper safes for firearms ownership. I will never make an argument against that because (and this is the crux of the issue) that makes complete sense! I agree with those practices as those save lives! So yes I am fine with gun laws as long as I can own rifles that look "scary" yet function identically to any other firearm that you are allowed to own.

> But you're focusing on such a small part of life. You're deciding a country isn't suitable for you because a certain firearm is prohibited in that country.

It is very small. A very very small point in life. But it is relaxing, enjoyable, and one of my many many hobbies I hold close to myself. (Along side software engineering, alcohol brewing, hiking, gaming, debate, and soon electrical engineering and design).

If any one of these were removed from the equation I wouldn't move to a place because they are all things I enjoy.

Not only that, but I don't have to move to NZ or Australia. I can move to many places.

This comes down to: You can move to two places, A and B. A fits all of your personal requirements for a a living space. B does not fit all of your personal requirements for a living space.

I would rather move to A than B.

(It is for this reason that I consider Alaska and the Czech Republic to be better contenders for retirement destinations)

> I'd love to chat with you over a beer. We've got such opposing views and I don't think either of us can see why the other thinks the way we do.

I'd love to. If you're ever in the east coast shoot me an e-mail! I live in Northern NJ currently (<20 minutes from NYC). If you are ever here I'd love to take you to the range and then to a bar to talk (never in the reverse order for safety reasons).

I'm always up to talk to people with opposing view points. That is really the only reason I read HN: people are mostly up to talk about things they are not comfortable with.

But I think I'll be taking the advice of the many NZ-citizens on this forum: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=12029424

It seems they don't want me much! Haha. But yes, the offer is on the table.