Being unarmed in Prague

[WAYNO]

Let me get back to you on that one. The one's that can answer that are a little less chatty. So, was your momma German or really Czech?

Ironically, there is a big building sporting a German flag down the road. I assume it to be the German Embassy.

Thanks for the support. It's my wife's birthday and she's the guide on this one. The pizza is really good, too. All you can eat and no gas or heartburn.

My Gramma on my Dad's side is German, specifically Bohemian.

So many of us became mutts when our ancestors left Europe.

 

[nwslopoke]

I've traveled all over the world and have never once been armed. I've only felt unsafe once but that's because we drunkenly stumbled into a back alley in Berlin at 3 a.m.... but we ended up singing "Too Fat for Me" with a few locals while relieving ourselves against a brick wall. Knowing at least a bit of the local language goes a long way towards their perception of you as a tourist.

Initially, trying not to wear overt American logos (but not pretending to be Canadian, either @Certaindeaf ) but being an overweight, 6' bald, black man in a "I Prague" tee-shirt isn't fooling anyone. No one give a care because they trade in Euros or whatever their local money is called.

Speaking of food. Prices are reasonable and the quality is high. No free refills on soda and they come in tiny bottles.

 

[Stomper]

America is a proto-European state, but Europe is nothing like America, so naturally it feels different over there. They've been living on top of each other for a thousand years or more. They're pretty good at it. They drink every day and don't get drunk. And they use public transportation without being obnoxious. Nice and quiet bus rides.

Here people cherish their privacy and independence. Sometimes without realizing it. So what works so well over there, will not work well here. No matter what Bernie says, we will never be Norway. People love their luxuries too much. Even the biggest eco-conscious socialist liberals love to throw the God-Almighty Dollar around.

But whatever we might be here, for all our warts.. people are still willing to risk their lives to come here. So I'm thinking we do a lot of things the right way. At least, right for us.

Hang on there, BUSTER!


I ain't NOBODY'S "proto"!!

 

[Stomper]

Initially, trying not to wear overt American logos (but not pretending to be Canadian, either @Certaindeaf ) but being an overweight, 6' bald, black man in a "I Prague" tee-shirt isn't fooling anyone. No one give a care because they trade in Euros or whatever their local money is called.

Speaking of food. Prices are reasonable and the quality is high. No free refills on soda and they come in tiny bottles.
View attachment 1778003

Wait, what… you mean to say that you're… BLACK?!!

 

[Barefootdog]

You Lucky Dog!.....

Get yourself some real Czech Pilsner.
I'm jealous as hell.
Be safe...Enjoy

If it's anything like Germany was every town of any size had it's own brewery.....

 

[nwslopoke]

Wait, what… you mean to say that you're… BLACK?!!

No...I meant to say it, without saying it.

 

[nwslopoke]

You Lucky Dog!.....

Get yourself some real Czech Pilsner.
I'm jealous as hell.
Be safe...

Had some and a fruity hot drink at the Christmas market. I mean, obviously for my wife, because real men don't enjoy hot fruity Christmas drinks.

 

[Barefootdog]

Hopefully not......

 

[Cavedweller]

This is a serious question. My family is German, from Bohemia when Bohemia was part of Germany. But Prague is the old capital of Bohemia. And my DNA comes up heavily German and East European.

How confusing European history is.

I'm confused. What period of history are you referring to? Bohemia was only part of Germany (a protectorate) for a very brief period from 1940-1945. Prior to being incorporated in independent Czechoslovakia after WW1 it was part of Austria-Hungary or Austria before that. From roughly 1480-1530 it was the independent Kingdom of Bohemia. Before 1480 it was within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire (neither holy or Roman, so they say). Perhaps you are mistaking the period of Austrian rule for being "part of Germany."

My maternal grandparents were from Bohemia, although they emigrated in 1900 when it was still part of Austria-Hungary. They definitely considered themselves Czech. They were not fond of Germans. Many Czechs resented being under Austrian rule.

 

[Certaindeaf]

 

[trevi]

Wait, what… you mean to say that you're… BLACK?!!

My surprised thoughts, too.....

 

[WAYNO]

I'm confused. What period of history are you referring to? Bohemia was only part of Germany (a protectorate) for a very brief period from 1940-1945. Prior to being incorporated in independent Czechoslovakia after WW1 it was part of Austria-Hungary or Austria before that. From roughly 1480-1530 it was the independent Kingdom of Bohemia. Before 1480 it was within the borders of the Holy Roman Empire (neither holy or Roman, so they say). Perhaps you are mistaking the period of Austrian rule for being "part of Germany."

My maternal grandparents were from Bohemia, although they emigrated in 1900 when it was still part of Austria-Hungary. They definitely considered themselves Czech. They were not fond of Germans. Many Czechs resented being under Austrian rule.

I don't know enough to know what questions to ask. My German Gramma... her ancestors, very German, came from a part of Germany that was or is or was later, within the Gerrymandered borders of Czechoslovakia. My apologies to the OP for derailing his thread. I will move on.

And OP... Have a great time!

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

Home safe I hope

Gunman opens fire in a Prague university, killing 14 people in Czech Republic's worst mass shooting

A student opened fire Thursday at a university in Prague, killing at least 14 people, officials said, in the Czech Republic’s worst mass shooting.

apnews.com

 

[nwslopoke]

I saw that. Was there Saturday before last in that area. There's a lot of video showing people running across Charles Bridge. I don't know where the college building is in reference exactly, but hundreds of people walking across that bridge to the big hotels, historic buildings and Christmas markets.

I recently tracked the gun laws there. Turns out they have a solid gun market in Czech Republic. A lot of medical and police bgc but firearms are available to the public. Even CCW. But they have different licenses levels.

Looks like the police response was fast but the shooter took himself out, by early reports. Started by killing his father, who may have owned the gun.

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Detailed article on the shooting here. They update it often.

Panicked students seen huddling on ledge as at least 14 killed, dozens injured after student opens fire at university in Prague

At least 14 people were killed and 25 others injured when a student opened fire on Thursday at a university in Prague — where harrowing images captured young people huddled on the scaffolding of a …

nypost.com

 

[L84Cabo]

Czech Republic has some of the best gun laws in Europe, including the ability to carry concealed...at least according to Wiki. I don't, know, however if there are restriction on carrying on school campuses.

It will be interesting to see which way they go with this...will they clamp down on gun laws or will they continue as usual.

Gun law in the Czech Republic - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[trevi]

I saw that. Was there Saturday before last in that area. There's a lot of video showing people running across Charles Bridge. I don't know where the college building is in reference exactly, but hundreds of people walking across that bridge to the big hotels, historic buildings and Christmas markets.

I recently tracked the gun laws there. Turns out they have a solid gun market in Czech Republic. A lot of medical and police bgc but firearms are available to the public. Even CCW. But they have different licenses levels.

Looks like the police response was fast but the shooter took himself out, by early reports. Started by killing his father, who may have owned the gun.

Get home safe, gun brother!

I am gonna reach out to the many i know in Czechia.

 

[Cavedweller]

I recently tracked the gun laws there. Turns out they have a solid gun market in Czech Republic. A lot of medical and police bgc but firearms are available to the public. Even CCW. But they have different licenses levels.

Czech Republic has some of the best gun laws in Europe, including the ability to carry concealed...at least according to Wiki.

The Czech Republic could be the most firearms friendly country in Europe. Shooting sports are traditionally popular there, and the Czechs have always prided themselves on the quality of their firearms design and production. They invented the handgun during the wars against Papal rule in the 15th century. Even during the Soviet era, when they were constrained by Warsaw Pact requirements, instead of just mimicking Russian designs like other E. European countries, they always tried to outdo the Soviets with their own designs.

"Firearms design underwent fast development during the Hussite wars and their civilian possession became a matter of course throughout the war as well as after its end in 1434.[5] The word used for one type of hand held firearm used by the Hussites, Czech: píšťala, later found its way through German and French into English as the term pistol."

History of Czech civilian firearms possession - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[ilikegunspdx]

Pretty detailed article here. Says he used a zev-30? I recognize the brand name but not the model. Maybe a mistake? I have seen two videos of him shooting and one looks like .308 and the other looks more like .223.
Anyway here is the article with one of the videos also.

Gun owned by Prague shooter WAS used to slay father and baby

David Kozak, 24, was suspected of being behind the slaying of the 32-year-old father, named locally as Martin, and his daughter as she lay in her pram during a walk through a forest.

www.dailymail.co.uk