Mark Mardell: Armed and ready to shop
Actually I find the comments on the article much more interesting and informative than the article, which is another "Europeans think the American's are crazy for wanting guns".
I only need to point out the situation in Switzerland, a country not noted for its rabid proponants (nearly typed Rabbit) of Gun ownership, gun crime and generally terrorising of its citizens. They have one of the highest militia gun ownership rates in the world (US / Yemen / Switzerland), in part as they are supplied guns as part of their militia training and reservist status.
Wikipedia / Gun politics in Switzerland
Wikipedia / List of countries by gun ownership ~ this does note that it is not a list of what % of the population owns guns, ie some people own more than 1.
I don't actually hate the idea of gun ownership but I rather dislike the idea of just anyone being able to get hold of one. Therefore in order to stop those I disaprove of having guns I must support regulation that prevents those I think ought to be allowed to have them.
Equally I rather like the idea of the Swiss concept. You can have them if you did military service and are then properly trained, part of the militia and have mandatory re-training on a regular basis. Much as we once did with the long bow in this country (UK).
Comments