Here's New Zealand's regime.

As a rural property owner I have little choice but to get a firearms licence, as I will at some point need to put stock down, or defend them against dog attacks, and also for pest control. I have the highest-powered air rifle I can own without a licence but that's no good for killing anything bigger than a rabbit with a single shot. My stipulation when buying it was that it had to be able to achieve a one-shot rabbit kill as I don't like animals suffering*. I'm not big on guns but found them fascinating when I was younger, and acknowledge they are required in certain circumstances.

To get my licence I have to fill out a Police form nominating two independent character referees. I will be interviewed personally by the Police, as will my referees, and if I pass this stage I must attend (and pass) a firearms safety course. Then I will have to pay roughly $400 to get the licence, and $450 per year to maintain it. I cannot own any MSSA or fully automatic weapons. The typical time to get a licence can be measured in months.

It is legal to carry firearms in vehicles as long as you have a valid reason for it being there, such as traveling to and from hunting sites and ranges. If you are caught carrying one in a vehicle without a good reason, expect an involved legal process to justify keeping it. If you have one in the open without very good reason, expect to swiftly meet several people dressed in tactical gear, and shortly thereafter, expect to meet either your cellmate or St Peter. Handguns are rare among the (law-abiding) public.


*Yes, I know, ironic since I have livestock, but the life they live here is as comfortable, healthy and happy as possible, with the end being quick and painless.

 

Well you have to take my comments with a bit of salt, and consider where I come from. I know statistics were meant to be abused and altered to support any kind of theory one wants to promote, but as a Canadian we are really aware of the difference in gun violence and gun ownership differences between the two countries. I know when I am on vacation in the US the news reports of crime and violence really surprise me, it just sticks in my brain whenever I am in the country. They types of crime and the violence associated with many crimes is very surprising to me. Most people will blame high gun ownership for much of the violent crime that occurs. Whether that is really true or not, it is just something that hits me when I am there.

A few years back a friend of mine took a roadtrip to Florida with his family in a travel van, they pulled into a gas station and variety store within an area near Miami. It was really hot out and the air conditioner wasn't working so well with their van, so they shut off the engine and opened all of the doors while my friend went into the store to get some cold drinks and ice for his family members who were in the van. As he got back to the van an undercover policeman came over to them and said "what they hell do you people think you are doing " my friend responded by saying they just stopped to get some refreshments as their van was too hot. The undercover cop suggested they get in their van and close the doors and get out of that areas asap. He told them that a high number of people in that location likely had a gun on them, and they all would know that my friend would not have a gun (Canadian license plate), he suggested they were risking their life sticking around that place. My friend did as suggested and high-tailed it out of there. It is a story that sticks in my mind . Road rage events that end with gun violence is certainly a risk in the US simply because people have guns that they can use as they see fit. Much less likely to happen in our home country, but we are not entirely free of gun violence, just much less prominent. I've driven through downtown Detroit in past years where I have made a wrong turn in the wrong neighbourhood, places where you don't wait for lights to turn green. Canada doesn't tend to have places like that for the most part, so things like that tend to shape my expectations, I might be off on my opinion but it is what it is.

 

more of a minor grumble.
for a long time our town has had trash bag tags.
When you threw a trash bag into the compactor at the transfer station it had to be tagged.
it was $2 a tag but over 62 you got some number a year free.
We used the big contractor bags for our "bags" and we have our own compactor so we never paid a lot for bag sticker.
the town just transitioned to now you have to buy their 30 gallon bags. Boooo
I'll still get free bags but I suspect we'll be buying more of them.

 

Did my first ever butt-dial yesterday, and it just had to be to 911, which isn't our official emergency number (we use 111) but after watching so many US TV programs some people began to believe we used it too, so the phone company took it on as well. We also have 000 and 999 available, because we have so many immigrants from Australia and the UK.

I heard some young bloke talking to me from my pocket, and I apologized profusely for it, but then went on to "I don't even know how I did it, my phone was locked" and generally waffling on for too long to him. Then I stared in bemusement at my phone and scrolled endlessly through its settings to turn off the feature before giving up and swearing at it and ranting about how phones are too clever for their own good these days, and why can't they just stop updating them and leave the features well enough alone?

So progression from middle-aged man to Old Fart seems to be coming along nicely.

 

 

I am 99% sure I put a little $ in Valentine cards I sent to my great niece and nephew in NY. They got their cards today and no money!! WTH? I know the red envelopes attract attention? Have to wonder if someone managed to open up the envelope, take the $ and re-seal the envelope. So weird. At least the kids liked getting mail, but I know they get a kick when money falls out!

I will send them some $ in a plain envelope.

 

I don’t believe thieves would unseal the envelopes, take the money, then reseal the envelopes. They would take the money and throw the cards away.

 

^
You are likely right.....I guess I put that $ somewhere else........

 

I regret buying a Google Pixel 7 pro, immensely. It has been flickering and going black screen. Four black screens in the past 48 hours. That's just groovy when you're using it for directions. I'm currently at 50 minutes on hold trying to get the M*&F$%r! replaced under warranty. I would LOVE to just get my money back and buy a different brand. I already called earlier tonight and jumped through the hoops for 40 minutes. There is proof of my purchase and it's still under warranty. ARGH!!!

 

I'm finally done. A "new" phone will be sent.