I think the reason why there are so many central and eastern European countries on this list is because the people of these countries know what real tyranny is. Unlike western Europeans and northern Europeans, who are privileged to be wealthy, advanced, and overall strong enough to have some control over their own policies, eastern Europe was a bunch of puppet states of the Soviet Union. Some Eastern Europeans remember what tyranny was like, and in some nations, planted the seeds of skepticism towards authority.
Also, why would you use the term "semi-automatic assault weapon"? What do you mean by that? I assume you mean semi-automatic centerfire rifles, and the term "assault weapon" is only American in nature.
I am not exactly sure whether a recent history of occupation or tyranny automatically results in more relaxed gun laws. While the UK, which has not been invaded in ages, has extremely strict gun laws, and the same for other British Commonwealth nations, Germany has recently experienced tyranny in the form of Communist oppression until 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down.
Yet, German gun laws are extremely strict, and while you listed several nations with SHALL-ISSUE licenses to possess firearms, most of them do not recognize self-defense as a valid reason to do so and most of them do not allow concealed carry, except for Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and perhaps a few other exceptions.
Switzerland, by contrast, has not been invaded nor at war since 1847, the Sonderbund War being its last war. Yet, their gun laws are perhaps the most permissive in Europe; they allow modern long guns without permits (single-shot, break-action, and bolt-action). Pump, lever, and semi-automatic firearms as well as handguns are subject to shall-issue PURCHASE permits. You can acquire short-barreled rifles/shotguns with a shall-issue permit, and purchase/own magazines of ANY SIZE and CAPACITY.
Even full auto is available! Same with suppressors!
Switzerland has not been at war nor invaded for over 150 years. Yet, their gun laws are the most permissive in Europe, and firearm PURCHASE PERMITS (not possession permits) take only 1-2 weeks to acquire (you submit the paperwork and get it back within 1-2 weeks) and even full auto guns take the same amount of time, not to mention suppressors.
I would not exactly say that gun laws are 100% correlated to recent history of invasion; the Czechs have historically had lax gun laws if you read the Wikipedia article. It has more to do with your history; most European countries require licenses to OWN FIREARMS and you can only list hunting/sport shooting as your reasons. Concealed carry is illegal, mostly.
The USA may have constantly been at war since its inception, but it has not been invaded since 1812.
Yet, MOST American states (aside from NY, California, NJ, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Washington State, and a few other places) do not require permits to possess/purchase ANY TYPE of firearm, and you can buy almost any firearm with no permit. You can buy and own magazines of any size! You can even buy and own full auto and suppressors in most states if you hop through Federal hoops.
The USA has long been free of foreign invasion. Yet, its gun laws are the laxest.
I fully agree. The main reason why Eastern Europe tends to be more libertarian in nature is probably because of a recent history of tyranny and oppression.
Western Europe is far too soft, and except for perhaps Switzerland (and Austria as an honorable mention), most of the countries are NOT on my list. I would be willing to live in Switzerland but that is about it.
I would say that Eastern Europeans tend to be more cautious about government, with the former Yugoslavia being awash with military weapons leftover from the war. And Wikipedia even admits that in the Czech Republic, similar to Switzerland, Austria, Poland and the Baltic states, firearms are seen as tools of individual or collective defense, rather than sporting equipment, which means their laws are considerably more relaxed.
If you are familiar with oppression, you tend to be more libertarian/right-wing. My parents (both Chinese immigrants) are right-leaning for this reason. I myself have similar views for this reason, although I never lived under real oppression.
Also, why would you use the term "semi-automatic assault weapon"? What do you mean by that? I assume you mean semi-automatic centerfire rifles, and the term "assault weapon" is only American in nature.
I am not exactly sure whether a recent history of occupation or tyranny automatically results in more relaxed gun laws. While the UK, which has not been invaded in ages, has extremely strict gun laws, and the same for other British Commonwealth nations, Germany has recently experienced tyranny in the form of Communist oppression until 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down.
Yet, German gun laws are extremely strict, and while you listed several nations with SHALL-ISSUE licenses to possess firearms, most of them do not recognize self-defense as a valid reason to do so and most of them do not allow concealed carry, except for Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, and perhaps a few other exceptions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_law_in_the_Czech_Republic
Switzerland, by contrast, has not been invaded nor at war since 1847, the Sonderbund War being its last war. Yet, their gun laws are perhaps the most permissive in Europe; they allow modern long guns without permits (single-shot, break-action, and bolt-action). Pump, lever, and semi-automatic firearms as well as handguns are subject to shall-issue PURCHASE permits. You can acquire short-barreled rifles/shotguns with a shall-issue permit, and purchase/own magazines of ANY SIZE and CAPACITY.
Even full auto is available! Same with suppressors!
Switzerland has not been at war nor invaded for over 150 years. Yet, their gun laws are the most permissive in Europe, and firearm PURCHASE PERMITS (not possession permits) take only 1-2 weeks to acquire (you submit the paperwork and get it back within 1-2 weeks) and even full auto guns take the same amount of time, not to mention suppressors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh0miJ4Y3RM
I would not exactly say that gun laws are 100% correlated to recent history of invasion; the Czechs have historically had lax gun laws if you read the Wikipedia article. It has more to do with your history; most European countries require licenses to OWN FIREARMS and you can only list hunting/sport shooting as your reasons. Concealed carry is illegal, mostly.
The USA may have constantly been at war since its inception, but it has not been invaded since 1812.
Yet, MOST American states (aside from NY, California, NJ, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Washington State, and a few other places) do not require permits to possess/purchase ANY TYPE of firearm, and you can buy almost any firearm with no permit. You can buy and own magazines of any size! You can even buy and own full auto and suppressors in most states if you hop through Federal hoops.
The USA has long been free of foreign invasion. Yet, its gun laws are the laxest.
I fully agree. The main reason why Eastern Europe tends to be more libertarian in nature is probably because of a recent history of tyranny and oppression.
Western Europe is far too soft, and except for perhaps Switzerland (and Austria as an honorable mention), most of the countries are NOT on my list. I would be willing to live in Switzerland but that is about it.
I would say that Eastern Europeans tend to be more cautious about government, with the former Yugoslavia being awash with military weapons leftover from the war. And Wikipedia even admits that in the Czech Republic, similar to Switzerland, Austria, Poland and the Baltic states, firearms are seen as tools of individual or collective defense, rather than sporting equipment, which means their laws are considerably more relaxed.
If you are familiar with oppression, you tend to be more libertarian/right-wing. My parents (both Chinese immigrants) are right-leaning for this reason. I myself have similar views for this reason, although I never lived under real oppression.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_laws_in_Lithuania
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_law_in_the_Czech_Republic