I would say that overall, America IS the most free country in the world. There may be a few areas where other countries might perform better, but on an OVERALL BASIS, America comes out on top.
In terms of gun rights, America is DEFINITELY the top in the world, and amongst Western developed countries, only Switzerland and perhaps the Czech Republic can rival the United States, with Switzerland actually performing better than America and many of its states in MANY areas such as legal full auto (full auto firearms made at any date are fair game in Switzerland), no magazine capacity laws, and so forth.
Yemen is certainly better than America, with no restrictions whatsoever, as are some parts of Pakistan.
I would definitely say that OVERALL, America greatly exceeds most other nations in the areas of freedom COMBINED.
The British Commonwealth and various European countries MAY allow some other freedoms such as drinking alcohol at or before age 18 and as you mentioned, many of them allow ownership of semi-auto centerfire rifles and magazines of any size. But the licensing process is quite long and self-defense is rarely an accepted reason. On top of that, in European countries, you deal with hate speech laws, prohibition of self-defense, and even homeschooling prohibitions.
Sure, there are other countries allowing semi-auto centerfire rifles. Sure, there are other countries allowing ownership of unlimited capacity firearms magazines. Sure, there are other countries without income tax and there are countries that allow homeschooling. There are countries that allow alcohol consumption at or before age 18. There are other countries that allow cannabis. There are other countries that allow various freedoms we hold dear.
But what about all of them COMBINED?
When it comes to all these freedoms COMBINED, America definitely takes the cake. No other country has all of them COMBINED.
I love Switzerland as a country and honestly, I would live there if I could just for their gun rights and would not mind serving in the Swiss Armed Forces. The only downside is that Switzerland DOES have hate speech laws and many of their cantons ban homeschooling.
The same goes for many other countries. Sure, the UK and Ireland may allow homeschooling, and Scotland allows you to become an adult at age 16, but firearms restrictions in the UK and Ireland are extremely strict, with self-defense NOT being a legitimate reason for ownership and with handguns and semi-auto centerfire rifles banned.
Germany may have the Autobahn with no speed limits, but they have hate speech laws and outright ban homeschooling. German gun laws are also extremely tight.
The point is, other countries MAY be libertarian in ONE OR MORE AREAS, sometimes even moreso than the USA, but on an OVERALL BASIS, America is the freest, with a COMBINATION of freedoms.
- Driving before 18
- Modern long guns, INCLUDING semi-automatic centerfire rifles, can be purchased and owned WITHOUT A PERMIT in most states
- Unlimited capacity firearms magazines in most states
- Permitless concealed/open carry in many or most states
- Self-defense rights are strong
- Stun guns and tasers legal in most states
- No income taxes in many states
- Strong homeschooling rights in all states
- No hate speech laws and the strongest free speech laws in the world
- Legal recreational cannabis in most states
- Age of consent at age 16 in many states
- A few states may have extra-strong personal freedoms. New Hampshire does NOT require driver insurance nor seatbelts.
- Fully automatic firearms legal in most states, but federal regulations MUST be followed.
- Suppressors legal in most states, but federal laws MUST be followed
- Short-barreled rifles/shotguns allowed in most states, but federal laws MUST be followed.
The one and only downside is that the US might set a higher drinking age and minimum age for purchasing cigarettes (21), and the same applies to some states in regards to gun purchase and ownership.
Some states also set the legal age of majority at 19-21 rather than 18, but Canada is very much the same.
I can go on.
Many other countries have ONE OR MORE of the above, but how many of them have ALL OF THEM TOGETHER?
I would say that overall, America IS the most free country in the world. There may be a few areas where other countries might perform better, but on an OVERALL BASIS, America comes out on top.
In terms of gun rights, America is DEFINITELY the top in the world, and amongst Western developed countries, only Switzerland and perhaps the Czech Republic can rival the United States, with Switzerland actually performing better than America and many of its states in MANY areas such as legal full auto (full auto firearms made at any date are fair game in Switzerland), no magazine capacity laws, and so forth.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_law_in_the_Czech_Republic
Yemen is certainly better than America, with no restrictions whatsoever, as are some parts of Pakistan.
I would definitely say that OVERALL, America greatly exceeds most other nations in the areas of freedom COMBINED.
The British Commonwealth and various European countries MAY allow some other freedoms such as drinking alcohol at or before age 18 and as you mentioned, many of them allow ownership of semi-auto centerfire rifles and magazines of any size. But the licensing process is quite long and self-defense is rarely an accepted reason. On top of that, in European countries, you deal with hate speech laws, prohibition of self-defense, and even homeschooling prohibitions.
Sure, there are other countries allowing semi-auto centerfire rifles. Sure, there are other countries allowing ownership of unlimited capacity firearms magazines. Sure, there are other countries without income tax and there are countries that allow homeschooling. There are countries that allow alcohol consumption at or before age 18. There are other countries that allow cannabis. There are other countries that allow various freedoms we hold dear.
But what about all of them COMBINED?
When it comes to all these freedoms COMBINED, America definitely takes the cake. No other country has all of them COMBINED.
I love Switzerland as a country and honestly, I would live there if I could just for their gun rights and would not mind serving in the Swiss Armed Forces. The only downside is that Switzerland DOES have hate speech laws and many of their cantons ban homeschooling.
The same goes for many other countries. Sure, the UK and Ireland may allow homeschooling, and Scotland allows you to become an adult at age 16, but firearms restrictions in the UK and Ireland are extremely strict, with self-defense NOT being a legitimate reason for ownership and with handguns and semi-auto centerfire rifles banned.
Germany may have the Autobahn with no speed limits, but they have hate speech laws and outright ban homeschooling. German gun laws are also extremely tight.
The point is, other countries MAY be libertarian in ONE OR MORE AREAS, sometimes even moreso than the USA, but on an OVERALL BASIS, America is the freest, with a COMBINATION of freedoms.
- Driving before 18
- Modern long guns, INCLUDING semi-automatic centerfire rifles, can be purchased and owned WITHOUT A PERMIT in most states
- Unlimited capacity firearms magazines in most states
- Permitless concealed/open carry in many or most states
- Self-defense rights are strong
- Stun guns and tasers legal in most states
- No income taxes in many states
- Strong homeschooling rights in all states
- No hate speech laws and the strongest free speech laws in the world
- Legal recreational cannabis in most states
- Age of consent at age 16 in many states
- A few states may have extra-strong personal freedoms. New Hampshire does NOT require driver insurance nor seatbelts.
- Fully automatic firearms legal in most states, but federal regulations MUST be followed.
- Suppressors legal in most states, but federal laws MUST be followed
- Short-barreled rifles/shotguns allowed in most states, but federal laws MUST be followed.
The one and only downside is that the US might set a higher drinking age and minimum age for purchasing cigarettes (21), and the same applies to some states in regards to gun purchase and ownership.
Some states also set the legal age of majority at 19-21 rather than 18, but Canada is very much the same.
I can go on.
Many other countries have ONE OR MORE of the above, but how many of them have ALL OF THEM TOGETHER?