Lazs
I didn't know that safe gun storage laws were mandatory in some parts of the US. I thought it was voluntary across the country. To be able to quantify it makes a differance and since you have the infomation I accept what you say. But I still maintain that the gun storage regs in NZ have had a positive effect here... but would only create problems in the US if they were used there. Storing your ammo seperate from the guns would not make sense in a country which gives it's citizens the right to carry a concealed gun. In effect, you would be only able to leave the gun loaded in your home while you a carrying it. It would be stupid.
I can't say what guns you could buy and posses in Australia because I don't live there. But from memory Bluedog made a post or two about the situation in Aussie and I think it was handguns, pump action shotguns and selfloading rifles that were heavily restricted. In NZ you probably could buy and posses most any type of gun you would want but it would depend on how detemined you are and how much red tape you a willing to wade through to get some of them. Full auto weapons are the hardest to posses, and even when they let you keep them they are only as collectors pieces- they won't let you fire them!
Handguns and military style self loaders are about mid table in terms of bs level to posses. Out of the two, handguns are the easiest to posses. And once you have got one you can buy as many as you like, which is at least something.
Militay style selfloaders would include the AR15, AK47, L1A1 etc... but only semi autos.
All the above catagories of guns have to be registered so big brother knows you have got them.
Lastly comes the guns that dont need to be registered and relativly easy to posses,which is the majority of the armoury - sporting rifles, bolt action ex-military, semi autos like the Mini 14 and HK Sl8, all types of shotguns and military style semis that have had the evil bits removed.. bayonet lug, flash hider etc..
Your loaded Kimber .45 on the counter would be fine by me but if a cop walked in an seen it then you might have a problem. It would depend on the cop, but you would be lucky if you didn't lose it. The same applies to the nightstand, but unless you were a cop magnet or advertised the fact that you keeped a loaded gun/s in your home you probably wouldn't have any problems.
I kind of new the .50 cal is not an assault rifle.. but has anyone told Arnie.
Excel