Russian Pee, Vodka, Homos and Guns

There is no country more macho that Russia. Their long running president reeks of it in everything thing he does including just sitting in a chair. The Russian Duma recently voted 472 to 0 to outlaw the promotion of unmanly  homosexuality. When was the last time our Congress voted 435 to nothing for something? And the alcohol intake breaks all world records. But they do all that macho without the American manly pursuit of guns and gunplay.

Ownership of all automatic and semi-automatic guns is illegal for Russian civilians. “Traumatic” pistols and revolvers (shooting rubber bullets only) are legal for self-defense, as well as smoothbore longbarreled (80 cm or more) shotguns and rifles for hunting. Both require licenses: a restrictive process which includes a criminal background check plus medical history and psychological evaluations.

The applicant must pay a number of fees, prove a genuine reason for possessing a firearm, and pass a test on firearm laws and safety. If buying hunting weapons, the applicant must purchase and install a secure wall-mounted gun storage safe – which will be verified by a home visit by the police. Each weapon must be registered, during which a sample bullet pattern and cartridge are taken and recorded. Gun owners have to re-apply for a license every five years.