To reiterate - I have no final opinion on the matter. But I received this email:
Actually the US not only has the largest amount of weapons but many are trained in their use. If you don't believe heavy weapon ownership helps to deter an invader, bare in mind that the Swiss are considered the most armed nation in the world. Their heavily armed citizenry was a major consideration in Hitler's decision to forgo a planned invasion.
Safest Place On Earth' Is Country
With Most Guns Per Person
By Raymond Duncan
The Herald - London
Switzerland is Europe's gun capital. It has more firepower per person than any other country in the world yet it is said to be one of the safest places on Earth.
Despite the prevalence of lethal hardware, the country has virtually no violent crime, there are only minimal controls at public buildings, and politicians rarely have police protection, although yesterday's events are bound to bring about a review of that situation.
Year after year, Switzerland has one of the world's lowest murder rates while sending machine guns to every member of their citizen army.
All males between 20 and 42 are required to keep rifles and pistols at home for the purposes of national defense and they are not kept in safes or with trigger locks. They are kept at the ready.
It was the Swiss passion for guns matched by their determination to keep their liberty that kept the Nazi war machine at bay.
When the Swiss government thought an invasion was imminent, it ordered every able-bodied man to stand by his post and defend it to the last round. Their determination, shooting skills, and the sheer quantity of weapons at their disposal persuaded Hitler that an invasion of Switzerland was not worth the cost and he should concentrate his efforts on conquering countries with strict gun control laws.
The nation's militia system requires males over 18 to be ready for a call to service.
Every Monday and Friday, men wearing uniforms and carrying weapons can be seen on commuter trains travelling to and from military camp for compulsory training.
Other countries have tennis courts and golf courses, the Swiss have shooting ranges. Almost every town has one, where reservists have to fire a set number of rounds each year to keep their weapons.
In restaurants and coffee shops, tourists sometimes find themselves competing with guns for places to hang their coats.
I own a gun range at my hunting lodge and we train men, women, girls and boys (over age 15) in usage, safety, etc. I believe having the largest assortment of AR rifles in the world would make an occupying army consider the the heavy penalty of facing the world's largest guerilla army. There is a big difference occupying a country whose owners predominantly own hunting shotguns and small sidearms,
Our country was able to repel an invading army a couple hundred years ago successfully. I hardly believe we would roll over and collaborate as some did during WWII. We would have cowards as I imagine every country has but I also have a belief in the tenacity and independence of the American population to believe a majority would take up arms to repel invaders.
