Gun cultures
[1] The term was first coined by Richard Hofstadter in an American Heritage article critiquing gun violence in the United States.
The Conservative Party, over the recent years, has been protective of the sport-shooting community, passing many bills that cater to their needs.
[citation needed] Due to Canada's proximity to and close history and cultural ties with the United States, the cultural and socio-political environment surrounding firearms has recently begun to emulate American attitudes, where those who oppose stricter gun laws as well as the right to use guns for personal protection tend to vote for the Conservative Party as well as other right-leaning groups, and those who support stricter gun laws and are opposed to legalizing the use of firearms for self-defence tend to vote for the Liberal Party, New Democratic Party or other liberal and left-leaning groups in the country.
Out of the three, the NFA advocates self-defence with a firearm and has recently begun to emulate the National Rifle Association of America.
The gun culture in the Czech Republic is shaped mainly by three facts: (1) Understanding of the right to keep and bear arms as an attribute of liberty,[4] (2) social acceptation of firearms primarily as tools of self-defense and not mere sporting equipment[5] and (3) 600 years long history of Czech civilian firearms possession.
Firearms possession was banned during German Nazi occupation and then allowed only to those deemed loyal during the Communist regime.
[10] Starting in 1421, Hussite militia became the first force whose military strategy and tactics depended on mass use of firearms in battlefield warfare.
The Hussite wars over religious freedom and political independence represented a clash between professional Crusader armies from all around Europe, relying mostly on standard medieval tactics and cold weapons, and primarily commoners' militia-based Czech forces which relied on use of firearms.
However, there is a strong gun culture in the island of Crete, the Peloponnese (especially in the regional unit of Elis and the Mani peninsula) and also mountain villages in Central Greece.
Due to the history of Israel and the many wars it has fought, Israeli society has emphasized the need to be armed and well-trained.
[14] However, the majority of Israeli gun culture is vested within the military and associated with serving in some armed service rather than a fringe militia.
Therefore, it is rather difficult for an average civilian to attain a firearms license, unless he/she lives in an area proven to be dangerous, or has the necessary military experience required by Israeli law.
[citation needed] Gun ownership, especially in the mountainous northwest, is part of traditional Pakistani culture.
[citation needed] World War II, and the years building up to it, saw a surge in firearms culture in the Soviet Union.
Rifle-training and marksmanship was seen as a symbol of fighting honor for the Soviet motherland, and later were a source of influence for sniping schools in the United States.
[citation needed] The emergence of the AK-47 as one of the world's most popular assault rifles has presented a stereotype of Russians as wielding AK-47s and having a gun culture similar to America.
However, the reality of the situation presents the opposite, according to a survey done by the Zircon public opinion research group, over 70% of Russians were opposed to the right to bear arms.
In March 2021, official figures reported there being 1.3million legally held shotguns in circulation, compared with around 358,000 rifles.
The gun culture of the United States can be considered unique among developed countries, in terms of the large number of firearms owned by civilians and generally permissive regulations.
[28] Yemen's gun culture is very similar to that of Pakistan's, in that firearms ownership is not only used for self-defense, but also used in celebratory fire.
