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Hello from Belgium

Alfa One

By Alfa One
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Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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Hi everyone,

Since a few weeks I look at this site frequently. Why? Well, I bought myself a Colt Umarex M4 Ops. Don't have it yet, we have to request a permit and that takes (when you're lucky) a few months.

I asked the permit mid june and I hope it will be there in august or september.

I'm not really a rifle kind of guy, I prefer pistols. My favourite one is my Norinco 1911A.

But the M4 is in terms of looks my favourite rifle and well, the salesman just tricked me in to buying one. He should have never asked me if I wanted to hold it. Yes, now I really want to hold ... on to it.

So fingers crossed and hopefully within a few weeks (or months) I can tell you how much I like it.

rodent.22 Newbie

rodent.22

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Hello Alpha One! Very glad to have you. As a fellow OPS owner I can say the new rifle will have a smile on your face! Keep us posted with updates and photos.... :thumb:

Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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I know it will bring a smile upon my face. In the meantime, while I'm waiting, I have visited it in the shop already. Just to make it get used to my face. Just had to hold it...again...

  • 3 weeks later...
Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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I keep my fingers crossed. Got a letter from the police yesterday that I can get my permit (the misses thought it was a speeding ticket at first ::).

Hopefully it is for the Colt/Umarex (had no other request, but you never know with those guys).

I'm gonna call monday first thing and hopefully I can get it the same day. My weapon should be in the shop already. So, if all is good, by monday afternoon, I'm a proud Colt Umarex M4 Ops - owner!

lmao_37 Newbie

lmao_37

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congratulations on getting you permit i bet you cant wait to finally go and get it now :thumb:

Once you get your new rifle you will be able to take it home n hug it n kiss it and call it george lol

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Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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George :o... LOL

But you are right, I will be so pleased.

However, then I have to wait for another few weeks just to shoot it, because I shoot just over the border in Holland. I need to get some other paperwork in order for that. And I can only do that from the moment I have the permit and the weapon.

Maybe I will take a day-pass in the shooting-range next to the gun-shop. Just to try it already :P

Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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Well, actually because I started out there with some friends. One of them was there for a few years, got the other one with him and when they knew I was interested in weapons asked me to come along.

It is only about 32 miles from where I live, so that's ok, especially because I like to drive.

The range is in fact a Belgian club, on Dutch soil. The reason for that was that in Antwerp more and more clubs were closing because of harsh environmental regulations. So the Belgians went across the border and got an agreement with the authorities over there.

There are several shooting ranges about 5 miles from where a live. But you can't shoot with everything there, only small calibers (which shouldn't be a problem with the Colt Umarex M4 :P).

But, you know, I feel fine at the one that I go. People are always friendly. If there is someone with something special, they always ask you if you would like to shoot. That's nice. The only downside is all the paperwork you need to do (and the waiting period) to take the weapons across the border. Of course you have to do it only once per weapon.

Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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Oh, well. Sometimes it feels like you need to fill in paperwork to get other paperwork...  typically European style I'm afraid and Belgium is probably the worst in that. What I really hate is that it all has to cost money as well.

About 4 years ago, when you wanted a weapon you had to go to the police and request a permit. It costed about $38, you waited a few weeks and you got. Not everywhere unfortunately, cause if the responsible police-chief didn't like guns, you were screwed. Some weapons (mostly for hunting) were free to get. You walked in a store, paid and walked out with the gun.

In 2006 an idiot walks around in Antwerp, goes into a gun-store. Buys a free weapon and shortly starts shooting around. A couple of people, amongst them a child, die.

That was the starting-point for all new gun-laws. It was really though when that new law came out, luckely some people went to court and got some logical changes in it. Since then we have to request our permit at the governor. And well, they get all the request of your province and sometimes have no idea what they are doing. The law says the have to give (or decline) you a permit within 3 months. Only, it cost you now about $120 and for what? It is exactly what the police-chief did?! And the crazy part, when it's ready you need to get it from the police-chief :o

You get used to it (maybe that's the worst of it). Doing things easy isn't something politicians understand.

Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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Funny story...

So I just went to the police... turns out the letter I got wasn't for the Colt. It was a 3 year old permit on which the provence had put a stamp and number on and probably thought: Hey, let's send that to the man.

Man, I was really gutted. The really nice lady from the police was turning everything inside out to see if they had made a mistake (which they could not have done as the provence has to do the job).

So I went back home, a little sad (yeah right: really sad). Only two minutes later, the nice lady calls back. The mailman had brought new permits in and guess what... the permit for the Colt is there also. She asks if I'm still around. I told here I'll be there within an hour as soon as the wife is back from shopping. It's only a two minute ride by bike to the police-station, so no big thing.

Yet she was apologising for it. Told her it was mighty nice of her to call me and that I'm very happy that she did. She didn't have to, she could just as easy sended me a new letter.

Man, I'm happy! The only down side... the gun-shop is closed on monday ??? Ah well, tomorrow at 10AM I'll be waiting at the shop and not too much later, I'll be walking out proudly as a owner of a new Colt Umarex M4 Ops!

techmike Newbie

techmike

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So here is hoping you get your Colt on Tuesday!  :beer:

By comparison, this is how I acquired my Colt.....

Saw it on gunblast.com, went to gallery of guns, ordered one and payed $170, it was shipped overnight from out west to Ohio, and I picked it up the next day at a local gun shop, after paying the remainder of the price.

TM

Alfa One Newbie

Alfa One

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:o

Not that different from the way I get my  :grin:

Unfortunately throughout all of Europe there is so much fear and resistance towards weapons.

Oh, well, can't wait till tommorow. Only 22,5 hours to go!!!!!

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