Martin Hotze wrote:


thanks for the links. hmm, I knew about the men off the military having
their waepons at home, but I didn't knew that it was that extreme there.

Extreme? Only extrem by your frame of reference.

Next time meeting people from Switzerland I have to ask them how this is
handled in every day life and if they already have a chance to turn down
military service (IIRC they had a vote on that).


Regarding the U.S.: Since the United States was created by an act of
rebellion it seems reasonable to conclude that act lead to a natural
cultural predilection toward personal gun ownership. The U.S. also
originated on a colonial frontier where the gun was a necessary tool of
survival.


yes, but this has been some hundred years now. ;-)


Actually it has been more than 200 years since the United states gained
its independence from England. The very first clash between British
troops and colonial Americans was precipitated by the intention of
the british troops to capture the amory at Lexington and Concord.
The Americans knew that if the British were successful in this that
their chances to defend their right to the freedoms they desired would
not have a chance to succed if they were disarmed.