[1) Must have a relative level of freedom as the US. I don’t want to be treated as a second-class citizen just because I’m a woman, and I don’t want to be restricted in basic movement or speech.
*No problem in the Netherlands. In fact, you might find the Dutch as a people treat men and women even more equal then you are familiar with, for instance when it comes to romance. *
Must allow people who live in the country to own handguns. I like my handguns, and I want to be able to take them with me.
*Guns are frowned upon here, and very few people apart from officers and hunters have them. It might be very hard, if not impossible, to take your gun with you. *
Must have a decent medical care system.
*We do. Dutch medical care is overall decent and affordable. There’s no super care if you pay extra, though. Everyone gets the same standard. *
I have to be able to take my cats with me. *Doable, but it might take a few months of preparation, and quite a bit of red tape. *
In terms of being allowed to keep your handguns, the only place that I can think of is South Africa, where I think they have concealed weapon laws similar to the States. Your cats will have to do a spell in quarantine though.
I could be wrong about South Africa, and hopefully one of the SA dopers will be along to confirm or deny.
I’m not “demand[ing] that they be just like home.” You can experience different cultures and still want to do it in a setting that offers decent medical care and respect towards women and your cats sitting on your desk. And yeah, even allows citizens (and non-citizens who live there) to own handguns. That’s not too much to ask.
I’m not sure what you mean by “lone ranger,” but I want to take my guns for the same reason others might be upset if they were told they couldn’t take their photo albums or their computers. First, I paid good money for them. Second, they’re just a tool like anything else in my house. Third, I like to use them (I shouldn’t even have to say this, but I mean use them against paper, of course.) They’re fun. I take gun ownership very, very seriously, and while self-defense is a small part of the reason I own one, the likelihood of someone breaking into my house while I’m home is extremely slim.
Back on topic:
Thanks to those of you who offered suggestions. There’s some interesting choices in there, and one I’d never even heard of. If I had to pick at the moment without doing any research, I’d probably go with Spain.
DeadlyAccurate, I’m sure calm kiwi wasn’t trying to engage in an arms debate with you.
I’m torn on gun culture myself (I do like using the things), but it is a fact that in many places outside the US, you will encounter some markedly different attitudes towards personal ownership of guns. The “Lone Ranger” comment was, I think, a friendly warning to you of what attitudes you might expect to find in New Zealand. It’s not a commentary on you any more than it is a commentary on the locals who hold those views. It just is.
Hm. The gun thing is the biggest problem. Norway has similar a similar system to Canada it seems. You can only have guns if you need them, and the only legal things to need guns for are hunting and competition shooting. If I wanted to buy a gun, I’d have to become a member of a local shooting club, take a class on gun safety, compete and practise steadily for six months or so, and then apply to the police for a permit to own firearms. Own, not carry around with you. Carry permits are extremely rare, if not unheard of. So I’d be looking at a year or so before I could buy that gun, and a lot of expence. No idea how that system works for foreigners moving in with their guns, but probably a similar timeline.
In summary, do you have to bring the guns right this very minute? Or would you be able to face some time unarmed while you finished hoop-jumping and red tape cutting in your chosen destination country? Because If the latter, you’d have more countries to choose from.
By the way, which how similar does the level of “freedom” have to be? Lets say the country has the ones you mention (freedom of speech and movement, no discrimination based on sex.). Are there others you can’t tollerate loosing, but don’t think to mention? Say, the ability to buy booze after a certain time? Pay no more than a certain amount of tax? Earn no less than a certain amount of money?
Others?
I’d suffer through waiting a reasonable time, and I have no problems with no-carry laws or classes. (I think classes should be required here, too.) I don’t carry right now (though I may go for my license in case I want to. It requires a class and a licensing fee, so it’s a little expensive).
Nah, nothing I can think of. An alcohol-free country wouldn’t even bother me, since I don’t drink that much to begin with. I wouldn’t care what the predominant religion is, as long as I’m not required to worship. I would think long and hard before moving to any country that forbade worship of any but the state religion, because I’m against that as a matter of principal, but I’m agnostic myself, and all other things being equal, I might bite the bullet anyway. I imagine most countries like that problem have other freedom issues, though.
If you do end up moving someplace that allows your firearms, and you get to the point where you can speak with authorities, fill out forms, and do whatever else for that purpose, do not mention the above.
Here in Canada anyway, guns are not regarded as “tools.” They are “sporting equipment,” to be used for target shooting and/or hunting. No other purpose. I’ve heard that mentioning “self-defense” or “protection” is a good way to make sure that you won’t be allowed to have them, and could result in your firearms being confiscated and destroyed. You mentioned you like target shooting, so it’s probably best to stick with that purpose.
In Spain, while “carrying a gun around” is uncommon, there are hidden gun permits and for some kinds of guns you need a permit to carry one but not to keep one at home in a locked box (knives over a certain size are also “for domestic use but don’t tote one around”). For target practice, you’d sign up with a club, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to compete; it gives you access to the facilities. Most clubs that have a shooting range include other sports. For example, “my pool” back home includes tennis (with a yearly tournament), a shooting range, a golf practice area, the pool, a small gym, squash…
Like bullfighting, “either you’re into it or you’re not”. People go all bug-eyed seeing those movies where some dude is just going to work with no intent to shoot anything and carries 2 rifles and a shotgun; but if you hunt or do target shooting… well, that requires either a bow or a gun.
A couple years back some guys tried to rob a couple who were walking home from the theater; the man was carrying a hidden gun (with a permit for hidden weapons) and used it. It was all over the news but for the morbo: the man in question was both the honorary consul of Colombia and the father of one of our foremost sportmen.
I do not live in NZ but I do have a resident visa as a skilled migrant worker. My husband and I have been trying to move to NZ for quite some time but just cannot work out the finances. For now, we are content to just visit. I don’t know the exact tax structure but I think it is similar to ours (in the US) with the exception that you do not get as many deductions (for example, you cannot deduct mortgage interest on your primary residence). As for work, I believe there are some good positions available (I work in IT) however the salaries just are not what we expected - too low considering the cost of housing in the urban areas. I also found that recruiters were not very responsive until I was actually in the country so I’ve found it very difficult to find a job from the US.
You need a license for a rifle or a shotgun, but they’re relatively easy to obtain: there’s a police background check and I think a mandatory firearms safety course. Just don’t think of using them for anything but hunting or target shooting: “home defense” is not smiled upon here, and forget carry permits.
Handguns are trickier: you can own them, but a license is a lot harder to obtain. You’ll have to convince the cops that you’re a legitimate collector or target shooter - and they will check. License conditions insist that you keep them in an approved gun safe, and they’ll check that too: don’t even think about keeping one in a bedside drawer to shoot marauding Indians. You can use them on an approved range, and that’s it.
Owning a rifle or shotgun is relatively common, especially on farms or outside the cities. Handgun ownership is very rare, given the restrictions.
There was a court case here in Canada several years ago, where an outdoorsman tried to get a carry permit for his handgun, alleging that he needed it when he was in the woods. The court turned him down, saying that if he was worried about his personal security in the woods, he should have a rifle or shotgun, which don’t need a carry permit, and which would be effective against a much wider range of potential threats than a handgun.
It’s not too hard to own long guns here, handguns are a bit more restricted but not too much harder. Visiting hunters can import their firearms, I can’t see why handguns can’t come in too. See Plod link below.
For long guns:
You need to be vetted by the police by them asking a family member living with you and a friend. Now, I’m living on my own and basically friendless , but just had my licence renewed (valid for 10 years).
You need a reason to own them, either hunting, or target shooting. You can’t own them for defence.
At least a theory safety test.
Security, usually a locked cupboard or 3-5mm steel safe.
For handguns:
The above plus:
You can only use them on a pistol range.
Extra security.
Probably extra stuff too, but I don’t own handguns so haven’t been down that path.
About pets, I know some UK people who came here with their dog and it either came straight in or spent just a few weeks in quarantine. I don’t know the rules or requirements.
The health system is pretty good, and insurance for private medical care is available.
About taxes, I just received the new tax tables for the upcoming financial year (all in NZ$ and per week):
$500 gross = $100.53 tax
$750 gross = $158.59 tax
$1000 gross = $244.34 tax
these are for employees, there aren’t any extra taxes unless you join the new government retirement fund.
, but just had my licence renewed (valid for 10 years).