Guns, the law, and you
Julesie, our man on the streets
Most of us carry weapons daily for self defence. The nice people in the gun
stores are always willing to help us choose the most efficient means of killing
or disabling assailants. Adverts on vid, radio, streets, trains and everywhere
else we look show us the latest and greatest items of portable destruction.
Armor is getting more common so we have to upgrade to new 'armor-busting' ammo
(which is, funnily enough, made by the same corporations that make the armor)
and probably a new weapon to use it. Hell, the things are even colour
coordinated to our outfits.
So where does the law stand on this?
According to President Seward's 1999 Federal Weapons statute all citizens
have the right to carry weaponry openly 'for protection of self and property'.
So does this mean you can go down to your local death merchants and buy an 18mm
cannon with 300 round belt feed for your car? NO. The actual statute
permits a 'carry' permit for a weapon to be issued for 25eb (was $25 at the
time). This permit is for one weapon: either a handgun; a single shot or
semi-automatic rifle; or a knife with a 12" or shorter blade.
OK, so that's a bit more specific, but not much more.
How this law is interpreted by the cops varies wildly. In Little Rock,
Arkansas locals can get by with one permit for the year and carry as much as
they feel like. In New York last year a grocery attendant was busted for putting
a switchblade she used for opening boxes into her pocket. She had a carry
permit, but the weapon wasn't being carried openly.
Another problem is the definitions of 'handgun' and 'semi-automatic rifle'.
For over fifty years now semi-automatic weapons have been available with three
shot burst mode, this falls into the realms of fully automatic weaponry and is
therefore not legal, or is it? Actually it depends on the police officer
involved, his mood and whether or not he wants to pull you in. The case for
burst mode capability wasn't settled after years of wrangling through courts and
senate, so don't hold you breath for a quick answer to this one.
In Night City you can actually get a 'special' permit that allows you to
carry a burst mode weapon for a mere 75eb extra, so long as the issuing
authority feels you are a good little citizen and the weapon is not 'of too
large a caliber for the function'.
There is one group of weapons that is, strangely, not apparently covered by
the law. Submachine guns. Security guards always seem to have them, gangsters
love them, even many street punks carry them. According to the word of the law
these are totally illegal weapons. Yet again the legality is totally up to
discretion. Corporations are generally allowed them for their official security
personnel (and that appears to imply every member of Arasaka can carry one).
Registered bodyguards may carry them (though it costs 300eb per annum for the
bodyguard permit) if 'the risk is considered high enough'.
In Night City if the law likes you you may also carry one so long as it does
not exceed 9mm and you pay 300eb on your permit. This is an extension to the
burst mode permit rules and the cops can get very difficult about it if
they don't like your face.
Swords, they generally have a length exceeding 12" don't they? Yes,
you've guessed it, another 'special' permit is required to carry a nice long
katana like all those well dressed corp types. For a mere 75eb extra you don't
have to feel out of place in that meeting (or put a 12" blade in a 24"
scabbard).
What is less known is that for 500eb extra you can get a permit to carry
concealed weaponry so long as you have a 'valid' reason. This is the permit that
all those big-league bodyguards with the bulging coats take. This is not an easy
permit to get, without good references or a lot of power behind you it's usually
an impossibility.
Cyberweapons, the wave of the future? Generally the judges are very strict on
this one, especially if you use them. But again enforcement varies. As with
normal weaponry a permit is required, one per weapon. Onlike normal weapons
though very few municipalities permit enhancements to permits to cover the
somewhat illegal weapons. The reasoning is simple, you can leave your normal
weapons behind if they're not needed, but rarely can people remove cyberweapons.
To be on the safe side don't put it in unless you're certain it's legal.
Now what about those lovely explosive toys the salesmen are always hawking?
Frag grenades, razor bombs, detcards, miro-missiles, they all look pretty good
and their stats are always awesome. The law (and therefore the cops) is pretty
definite on these items. They are totally and utterly illegal, unless you have a
need for them. This need is is usually only accepted for corps and folks in
desolate areas with a large raider problem. Keep away from these things if you
want to keep the cops away from you.
So what can you do to protect yourself from all those badasses out there and
all their illegal weapons without breaking the law yourself? It's obvious, you
buy yourself some good, heavy armor. Well, that's not such a good idea either,
the cops tend to move in on people in heavy armor as 'obvious troublemakers' and
bust them for anything they can.
To be on the safe side wear light armour, it'll protect you from ricochets
and glancing hits at least. Then go down to city hall and get yourself a permit
to be armed and carry weapons. Next get yourself to a training course (did I
forget to mention you can't legally carry a weapon in the streets unless you've
completed an approved training course?). Now you can go down to your local
gunshop and choose the weaponry that suits you best, preferably something with a
high capacity, get your permit endorsed and keyed, check the gun camera is
loaded and you can saunter the streets with the rest.
Of course if you're going out of the city into a rural area (or even into the
zone) none of this applies - man there's nobody to check your permits out there
so anything goes.
Also please remember all these rules only apply to full citizens. If you're
not an adult with a SIN you have no chance of even getting a permit to carry a
3" pocketknife, never mind a firearm.
Good luck.
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Camberley Area Wargames Society
