Czech Republic Approves Constitutional Right to Own Weapons for Self Defense

[RoyGBiv]

Vynikající!


Senate confirms right to armed defence will be constitutionally enshrined (https://english.radio.cz/senate-confirms-right-armed-defence-will-be-constitutionally-enshrined-8723636)


The Charter will now contain a provision stating that “the right to defend one’s life or the life of another person, even with a weapon, is guaranteed under the conditions laid down by law”.

Firearm ownership rights embedded into Czech constitution (https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/firearm-ownership-rights-embedded-into-czech-constitution/)


According to the bill’s authors, this constitutional change will prevent this right from being restricted by common law, and will thus strengthen the position of the Czech Republic in the debates on further EU regulations.

[ralph]

Good. They get it. Now, that somehow needs to be explained to our government in such a way that there’s NO misunderstanding it….

[entropy]

Those are my peeps.

Damn proud of them too.

🇨🇿

[HeavyDuty]

Those are my peeps.

Damn proud of them too.

🇨🇿

A fellow Bohunk?

[entropy]

A fellow Bohunk?


Damn right!

I eat pork dumplings and sauerkraut for breakfast!

[HeavyDuty]

Damn right!

I eat pork dumplings and sauerkraut for breakfast!

Make it sweet and sour cabbage, and you’re on!

My grandfather contributed the majority of the Bohemian blood in my veins, and he was 50/50 - half Czech and half Slovak. I married a Sudeten German, my MIL and GIL were amazing cooks. I got this fine physique from svíčková, dumplings and the occasional kolacky.

For the blood match - potato or bread dumplings?

[revchuck38]

I eat pork dumplings and sauerkraut for breakfast!

Almost all of my ancestry is Irish, but that sounds kinda awesome. :) I'm the only person I know who asks for sauerkraut on my hot dogs, folks in south Louisiana aren't much into that.

[Trooper224]

I've dealt with a couple of Czech swordsmiths, cool people. They're far more grounded and reliable than their fickle artsy angsty US counterparts.

[entropy]

Make it sweet and sour cabbage, and you’re on!

My grandfather contributed the majority of the Bohemian blood in my veins, and he was 50/50 - half Czech and half Slovak. I married a Sudeten German, my MIL and GIL were amazing cooks. I got this fine physique from svíčková, dumplings and the occasional kolacky.

For the blood match - potato or bread dumplings?


Tough call. My side of the family is bread. Wife’s side is potato. I’d have to say bread however...out of respect to my mother and grandmother.

OK...word association time. Say the first thing that comes to your mind when you read the following words/names:

1) Weber’s
2) Sawa’s
3) Little Europe 😢
4) Josie’s

Most of my relatives are either buried up on Pulaski or up on Milwaukee.

Čau

[Clusterfrack]

CZ is now the official gun of self defense. No more calling me a gun hipster for carrying one.

[HeavyDuty]

Tough call. My side of the family is bread. Wife’s side is potato. I’d have to say bread however...out of respect to my mother and grandmother.

OK...word association time. Say the first thing that comes to your mind when you read the following words/names:

1) Weber’s
2) Sawa’s
3) Little Europe 😢
4) Josie’s

Most of my relatives are either buried up on Pulaski or up on Milwaukee.

Čau

It was the eternal battle - I was brought up on Chateau bread, my wife on home made potato. We still survived.

All amazing restaurants. I grew up in La Grange Park, so the little Cermak Road restaurants are where we went.

[Suvorov]

So nice to see an European country that embraces the natural rights of man.

[Greg]

Hot wimmins and a right to self defense.

The Czech Republic deserves some of my vacation dollars.

[Hieronymous]

Hot wimmins and a right to self defense.

The Czech Republic deserves some of my vacation dollars.

Couldn’t agree more.

[TheNewbie]

CZ is now the official gun of self defense. No more calling me a gun hipster for carrying one.

I wonder how many other guys tote a P-07 on duty. It should have either been released 20 years ago when DA/SA were serious contract contenders, or in 40 years when they will be hip again.

[entropy]

Unbelievably beautiful country, no matter what your heritage is. Our oldest made it a point to take his GF there to get engaged.

[revchuck38]

CZ is now the official gun of self defense. No more calling me a gun hipster for carrying one.

I might need to put away my Berettas and dig out my -75Bs! :)

ETA: I dug the 60-TK out from the bottom of the holster drawer...and then had to dig out the cordovan shoe polish because the holster had been on the bottom of the holster drawer for a while. I need to see if I still have the necessary range of motion for that holster...

[Stephanie B]

I grew up in La Grange Park

No shit? My family lived in LaGrange for a few years. I went to Cossitt El and LTHS.

[Clusterfrack]

The Czech Republic deserves some of my vacation dollars.

Yes—wonderful country

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210727/d0985e76d8641be622d9f6c48c6c8734.jpg

[KellyinAvon]

Congrats to the Czechs!

[entropy]

No shit? My family lived in LaGrange for a few years. I went to Cossitt El and LTHS.

*Small World Alert*

You might recognize some of those names?

[Kanye Wyoming]

Hot wimmins and a right to self defense.

The Czech Republic deserves some of my vacation dollars.
My kids and I planned what was to be a surprise trip to Napa for my wife’s 60th last August. Of course we had to cancel due to COVID. My 60th is coming up next spring so I suggested we reboot for that, except I’d prefer either France (must strike quickly before I get too mad at them again) or Czech Republic.

The decision becomes easier.

[Mas]

Just out of curiosity...what's the story on American tourists bringing handguns into the Czech Republic, and legally carrying there?

[TGS]

Just out of curiosity...what's the story on American tourists bringing handguns into the Czech Republic, and legally carrying there?

The law (off the Czech Embassy website):
https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/cz/o_ministerstvu/organizacni_struktura/diplomaticky_protokol/x9_import_export_transit_and_possession.html

The process (off the Czech Chicago CG website):
https://www.mzv.cz/chicago/en/consular_information/important_information_for_travelers_1/firearms_information.html

From what I can tell, you'll need to have a resident status to get a class-E (CCW) license. Foreign tourists only appear to be able to get A, B and C licenses (sporting).

You'll also need to be fluent in Czech, as you have to pass a bunch of exams, written and practical, in addition to get a doctor signing off on your good health. While ownership of firearms is a constitutional right in the Czech Republic, I haven't seen anything that actually changes the regulation of firearms. It's not a libertarian paradise where anyone can "constitutional carry" an unregistered 80% build as we understand it in the US, and you're also subject to search without any of the constitutional protections we have in the US, such as a standard of RAS or PC.

CCW permits are still fairly rare in the Czech Republic. Only 250k out of 10+ million citizens.

[fixer]

Fantastic news.

[Stephanie B]

*Small World Alert*

You might recognize some of those names?

Not really. I was a kid. And with three siblings, eating out as a family was a rare occurrence. Usually it seemed to be paired with a museum trip. There was some place in Chicago that we (the kids) loved because they had peanuts and we got to drop the shells on the floor.

[Mas]

The law (off the Czech Embassy website):
https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/cz/o_ministerstvu/organizacni_struktura/diplomaticky_protokol/x9_import_export_transit_and_possession.html

The process (off the Czech Chicago CG website):
https://www.mzv.cz/chicago/en/consular_information/important_information_for_travelers_1/firearms_information.html

From what I can tell, you'll need to have a resident status to get a class-E (CCW) license. Foreign tourists only appear to be able to get A, B and C licenses (sporting).

You'll also need to be fluent in Czech, as you have to pass a bunch of exams, written and practical, in addition to get a doctor signing off on your good health. While ownership of firearms is a constitutional right in the Czech Republic, I haven't seen anything that actually changes the regulation of firearms. It's not a libertarian paradise where anyone can "constitutional carry" an unregistered 80% build as we understand it in the US, and you're also subject to search without any of the constitutional protections we have in the US, such as a standard of RAS or PC.

CCW permits are still fairly rare in the Czech Republic. Only 250k out of 10+ million citizens.

Thanks, TGS!

[Kanye Wyoming]

The law (off the Czech Embassy website):
https://www.mzv.cz/jnp/cz/o_ministerstvu/organizacni_struktura/diplomaticky_protokol/x9_import_export_transit_and_possession.html

The process (off the Czech Chicago CG website):
https://www.mzv.cz/chicago/en/consular_information/important_information_for_travelers_1/firearms_information.html

From what I can tell, you'll need to have a resident status to get a class-E (CCW) license. Foreign tourists only appear to be able to get A, B and C licenses (sporting).

You'll also need to be fluent in Czech, as you have to pass a bunch of exams, written and practical, in addition to get a doctor signing off on your good health. While ownership of firearms is a constitutional right in the Czech Republic, I haven't seen anything that actually changes the regulation of firearms. It's not a libertarian paradise where anyone can "constitutional carry" an unregistered 80% build as we understand it in the US, and you're also subject to search without any of the constitutional protections we have in the US, such as a standard of RAS or PC.

CCW permits are still fairly rare in the Czech Republic. Only 250k out of 10+ million citizens.
250K out of 10+ million strikes me as better than NYC, and in NYC there’s not even a Czech fluency requirement.

I hope Cuomo doesn’t lurk here. “Czech fluency for a CCW permit? Yeah, that’s the ticket.”

[entropy]

Not really. I was a kid. And with three siblings, eating out as a family was a rare occurrence. Usually it seemed to be paired with a museum trip. There was some place in Chicago that we (the kids) loved because they had peanuts and we got to drop the shells on the floor.

The “Come Back Inn” in Melrose Park maybe? Do you remember a big stuffed bear at the place?

How about the farm stand at the corner of 31st and Wolf? Right next to the model airplane field.

[mtnbkr]

CCW permits are still fairly rare in the Czech Republic. Only 250k out of 10+ million citizens.
How much of that is due to the difficulty to acquire and how much of that is cultural aversion or lack of desire?

Few, if any, of the Europeans I know (and virtually none of the Brits) would run out and get a CCW if they were suddenly able to do so. It's simply not in their make up. The Czech numbers may reflect a cultural issue more than a legal one.

Chris

[wvincent]

How much of that is due to the difficulty to acquire and how much of that is cultural aversion or lack of desire?

Few, if any, of the Europeans I know (and virtually none of the Brits) would run out and get a CCW if they were suddenly able to do so. It's simply not in their make up. The Czech numbers may reflect a cultural issue more than a legal one.

Chris

That is what I will never understand. I can't fathom the idea of not exercising a legal right to carry (and hopefully never use) a tool that could make the difference in my survival in a criminal encounter.

On the bright side, this is sure to cause much angst with the EU, so yeah, I really like it.

[Clusterfrack]

Few, if any, of the Europeans I know (and virtually none of the Brits) would run out and get a CCW if they were suddenly able to do so. It's simply not in their make up. The Czech numbers may reflect a cultural issue more than a legal one.


I agree. I've repeatedly heard EU colleagues talk about getting mugged as if it was no big deal. They simply hand over their cash when threatened.

[HeavyDuty]

No shit? My family lived in LaGrange for a few years. I went to Cossitt El and LTHS.

I love this. La Grange was where my family shopped, and my great grandmother lived in one of the apartments across Madison from Cossitt. They used to put me on the West Towns bus by my grandparents, and my great grandmother would meet the bus in front of Kresge’s. We’d have breakfast at the lunch counter there, shop all morning and get lunch at Callie’s before catching a cab back to LGP from the train station.

[HeavyDuty]

Not really. I was a kid. And with three siblings, eating out as a family was a rare occurrence. Usually it seemed to be paired with a museum trip. There was some place in Chicago that we (the kids) loved because they had peanuts and we got to drop the shells on the floor.

Ground Round, Barnaby’s, if you were in the city maybe John Barleycorn’s.

[HeavyDuty]

The “Come Back Inn” in Melrose Park maybe? Do you remember a big stuffed bear at the place?

How about the farm stand at the corner of 31st and Wolf? Right next to the model airplane field.

The grotto at Come Back Inn got me into more panties…

[mtnbkr]

That is what I will never understand. I can't fathom the idea of not exercising a legal right to carry (and hopefully never use) a tool that could make the difference in my survival in a criminal encounter.

On the bright side, this is sure to cause much angst with the EU, so yeah, I really like it.
I don't get it either.


I agree. I've repeatedly heard EU colleagues talk about getting mugged as if it was no big deal. They simply hand over their cash when threatened.

My take on it is Europe has been "civilized" far longer than the continental US and has forgotten what it is like to exist where the laws of Man do not apply. It is not out of the realm of possibility that older GenXers knew people who were either "Indian fighters" or their contemporaries. They may also have known folks who grew up in wilderness or other lawless regions (think of how hard it would be to get from the depths of Appalachia to "civilization" before modern roads and autos were commonplace). As we have yet to lose those cultural memories, we still see the value of being armed against attack. We may very well lose that "edge" as the world gets "smaller".

Chris

[Trooper224]

Most of my European acquaintances boggle at the thought of owning a gun, let alone using one in self defense. Most of them feel that way about self defense in any form. If they're into martial arts of some kind it's strictly for recreation and they view the practical use of it as beyond the pale. I think this has much to do with the encroachment of socialism into every thread of their lives. They've always had the mentality of a subject rather than that of a citizen, which made greater government control through socialism a natural replacement for a monarchy.

The attitudes of eastern Europeans like Czechs and Poles seems to be different. Perhaps because they suffered under the yoke of communism, unlike their western European cousins, or maybe because their countries were always seen as the frontier by western Europe and they still have some of that attitude. I don't know.

I do have a few English friends who are secretly quite envious of our rights of self defense and firearms ownership. They all feel that willingly giving that up was the worst mistake they ever made. They're not about to publicly voice that in their current society though.

[Stephanie B]

I love this. La Grange was where my family shopped, and my great grandmother lived in one of the apartments across Madison from Cossitt. They used to put me on the West Towns bus by my grandparents, and my great grandmother would meet the bus in front of Kresge’s. We’d have breakfast at the lunch counter there, shop all morning and get lunch at Callie’s before catching a cab back to LGP from the train station.

I loved the new library. The old one, which had been built with a Carnegie grant, was pretty cramped and awful. On Google Earth, it looks as though they've expanded it a lot. There was a newsstand and bookstore across the street from the LaGrange Road railroad station. I spent a lot of money there. Also did in the camera shop that was either next to or a couple doors down from the theater. Mom loved the town because she could send us to to the grocery store to pick up a few things (it was across the street from the theater) and, unlike the last place we had lived, she didn't have to drive us everywhere. it was very much a "go out and play and be home for supper" sort of town.

What was less liked by her was that Cossitt El. didn't do lunches. Everyone went home for lunch.

The movie theater was a one-screen affair back then. As kids, we looked forward to summer because it meant we could go to the movies during the week. One summer, they ran Dr. Zhivago for the entire freaking summer. I was some pissed. Still haven't seen that movie.

Do they still have the Pet Parade?

[cheby]

Here is what the most interesting thing about this to me:
Pretty much all the Eastern European countries are going to absolutely opposite direction compared to the US. Gun rights and individual freedom are just some of those issues. Countries such as Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary are not into the neo-marxist cultural revolution we are experiencing here. Why? Because they have been there before.

[luckyman]

I don't get it either.



My take on it is Europe has been "civilized" far longer than the continental US and has forgotten what it is like to exist where the laws of Man do not apply. It is not out of the realm of possibility that older GenXers knew people who were either "Indian fighters" or their contemporaries. They may also have known folks who grew up in wilderness or other lawless regions (think of how hard it would be to get from the depths of Appalachia to "civilization" before modern roads and autos were commonplace). As we have yet to lose those cultural memories, we still see the value of being armed against attack. We may very well lose that "edge" as the world gets "smaller".

Chris

Agreed. Heck one county I spent time in only had 2 deputies on shift at any one time for the entire county. That meant 1) response time could sometimes be an hour if something else was going on at the other end of the county and 2)if you encountered A police car you could be virtually certain you wouldn’t see another one in the next hour or two. There wasn’t actually that much trouble, but if there was you were on your own.

I will say my co-workers from Poland, and the one Finn I know, aren’t your typical Europeans in this regard.

[HeavyDuty]

Do they still have the Pet Parade?

I believe so - I used to have to cover that every year when I worked for the Suburban Life.

[cheby]

I agree. I've repeatedly heard EU colleagues talk about getting mugged as if it was no big deal. They simply hand over their cash when threatened.

EU is not all the same. France vs Poland, for example. They are going in opposite directions.

[Clusterfrack]

EU is not all the same. France vs Poland, for example. They are going in opposite directions.

Agree. I don’t have any Polish colleagues, unfortunately. One 60 yr old Israeli colleague has actually been injured twice resisting mugging while abroad at meetings.

[luckyman]

Agree. I don’t have any Polish colleagues, unfortunately. One 60 yr old Israeli colleague has actually been injured twice resisting mugging while abroad at meetings.

I really like working with the Polish guys. But at least with my team they are significantly more pessimistic (realistic?) than Americans, and the speed that gossip travels is amazingly fast with them.

[cheby]

I really like working with the Polish guys. But at least with my team they are significantly more pessimistic (realistic?) than Americans, and the speed that gossip travels is amazingly fast with them.

They didn't study history in American schools, I am guessing

[Snapshot]

Here is what the most interesting thing about this to me:
Pretty much all the Eastern European countries are going to absolutely opposite direction compared to the US. Gun rights and individual freedom are just some of those issues. Countries such as Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary are not into the neo-marxist cultural revolution we are experiencing here. Why? Because they have been there before.

This. And they know from direct personal or close family experience that it was not good. Not good at all.

[luckyman]

They didn't study history in American schools, I am guessing

Considering most of them actually still live in Krakow, your guess is correct [emoji1]

[cheby]

This. And they know from direct personal or close family experience that it was not good. Not good at all.

I am afraid Americans have no concept of what an awful place we are heading to.

[Joe in PNG]

I've seen a mix of attitudes from my coworkers of various nationalities, and sometimes it varies according to region of the country they are from.
So, with Canadians, the Albertians tend to be more pro-firearms, while those from the Vancouver area think firearms an abomination.
My Romanian/ German friend who lived under Ceausescu & was forced to fight in the civil war is very pro gun.
My English & German coworkers are typically anti gun, as are a good part of the Aussies I've talked to.

But, even in the USA, the attitude varies. The New York City or urban California people tend to be more anti, while us deplorable flyover types tend to have permits.

[Hot Sauce]

Here is what the most interesting thing about this to me:
Pretty much all the Eastern European countries are going to absolutely opposite direction compared to the US. Gun rights and individual freedom are just some of those issues. Countries such as Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary are not into the neo-marxist cultural revolution we are experiencing here. Why? Because they have been there before.
I understand the point that you want to make, but this isn't a great analogy to support it. This is painting with too broad a brush.

Hungary, for instance, while certainly not turning pro-Marxist, is not some kind of ideal to aspire to.

In the past decade under PM Orban and his party, their political system has turned increasingly toward an authoritarian version of democracy. Colloquially it is referred to as de-democratization. They hold up Russian governance as a model of sorts. And you see some of the same signs as with Putin's early rise: repression of and spying on the free press, attacking judicial independence, and a general and intentional eating away at democratic institutions and checks/balances.

Hungary has indeed been here before, most notably in the mid 1930s and early 1940s.

Negative experiences with Communism/authoritarianism/any other political system don't immunize societies and countries against making the same mistakes again in the future. People are not that smart, and collective memories are not as long and vivid as they ought to be.

[cheby]

And you see some of the same signs as with Putin's early rise: repression of and spying on the free press, attacking judicial independence, and a general and intentional eating away at democratic institutions and checks/balances.
.

you are describing some other country we know as well.... A couple articles to the point:

https://taibbi.substack.com/p/the-sovietization-of-the-american


https://outsidevoices.substack.com/p/author-of-the-mega-viral-thread-on