Understanding Gun Laws in Bulgaria
As we explore the legalities of gun ownership and use around the world, it would be remiss to ignore the comprehensive gun laws in Bulgaria and how they might mirror or contrast with our own laws here in Alabama. The gun laws in Alabama are fairly laid-back from a national perspective, allowing most citizens the right to own, purchase, carry, and even conceal that carry, their guns if they can pass the background checks and get requisite permits. But how exactly do gun laws in Bulgaria compare? And what does any of this mean for Prattville Community Church and our mission to serve God? After all, we’ve got a community to build and a congregation to inspire.
The current laws in Bulgaria regarding gun ownership and use are well defined and can be found in detail on the official government website linked in the previous sentence. The laws themselves are challenging and complex in nature, but the short and sweet version of gun laws in Bulgaria goes something like this:
- Private ownership of hand guns is allowed
- Hand gun permits are good for 5 years
- Private ownership of shotguns and rifles is allowed
- Shotgun and rifle permits are valid indefinitely
- Individuals cannot use guns on their own property
- Semi-automatic weapons are not permitted
- Use of fully-automatic weapons in any way is a criminal offense
- Gun users must be trained by a civilian or military instructor
- Gun users must pass a psychological profile exam
- Gun users must pass a criminal background check
- Gun users must pass a medical exam
With these regulations in mind, it is important as a member of Prattville Community Church – and a NGWAG (no-guns-allowed-guy) – to understand that different cultures tend to have different perspectives on gun rights and laws, and there is no straight answer for how best to react to gun-related issues. It’s all about trusting in God and knowing the true intentions of those around us. In Bulgaria, for example, private gun ownership is fairly common. But don’t let this scare you. Even though it may be possible that a few folks in Bulgaria legally own guns, the gun laws in Bulgaria make ownership a serious responsibility. Gun users can’t simply buy an AK-47 or a freaking bazooka. Gun users need licenses, training, permits, inspections, and proof that they can haul a weapon without turning it into a weapon of mass destruction. Most importantly, gun users in Bulgaria need to prove that they can handle a gun safely.
There’s a big difference between responsible gun ownership and those who have guns just because it’s the law. Bulgaria has done a fine job of sketching out gun laws that balance safety, restriction, and individual rights. Which leads me to believe we can do the same here in the United States. Sure, every state has a slightly different interpretation of what people can and cannot do with guns, but when it comes down to basic safety, I believe we all can agree: No one should ever use a gun in a church, only criminals should use assault weapons, and every gun owner must be responsible.
It is important to note that according to Pew Research, a global research company, approximately 48% of Bulgarians are gun owners versus approximately 50% of Americans. Gun laws in Bulgaria are confusing and complex, but overall culture seems to indicate that most gun owners are responsible. It’s similar here in the United States, where responsible gun ownership is the norm – most of the time. In both countries, responsible gun owners need to lock up their guns, keep them far away from children, and allow only those who can handle firearms to use them at all.
At Prattville Community Church, we live by the golden rule: treat others how you would want to be treated. This means that when it comes to gun laws in Bulgaria, or anywhere else, we need to adopt a wait and see policy. If you’re ever not sure how to react in situations involving guns, or even discussions about gun laws, resort back to the golden rule and treat everyone who has a gun how you would want to be treated. There is never a need to overreact or go off the deep end if you aren’t sure what’s going on. Just remember that in most cases, 99.999% of the world’s population is made up of good people. Responsible gun owners.