Following the recent mass shootings in the United States, advocates have spoken out against the leniency of American gun regulations compared to those of other countries.

Americans make up five percent of the world’s population and own nearly half of civilian-owned guns worldwide. The country has experienced more than 1,800 deaths by gun this year according to Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit that tracks every incident of gun violence in the U.S.

National gun laws in the U.S. dictate that citizens and legal residents must be at least 18 to purchase shotguns, rifles or ammunition, and gun dealers must conduct a background check before selling a gun to a prospective buyer. But some states have different individual processes. For example, Oklahoma allows for the possession of a firearm without a permit, and in Arizona, one can conceal carry a weapon without a license.

With the United States’ robust gun culture comes an equally strong group of gun control critics. The National Rifle Association, a non-profit organization that promotes the Second Amendment, is one of the nationally-established groups that speak out against gun control. Institutions like the American Firearms Association and the National Association for Gun Rights endorse the argument that gun regulation infringes on the rights of American citizens. However, gun control proponents argue that the sentiments of U.S. gun culture threaten the safety of citizens.

“Congress should take sensible steps to address the role of weapons of war in civil society,” Anna Eshoo, the U.S. Representative for California’s 18th congressional district, said. “For too long, unreasonable forces have prevented serious consideration of virtually any gun legislation, no matter how common-sense it is. I reject this shortsighted view, as do the vast majority of the American people and the law enforcement community who want to reduce gun violence, without threatening the rights of law-abiding Americans.”

There were approximately 88.8 guns per 100 people in the United States in 2007 and 0.6 guns per 100 people in Japan according to the Small Arms Survey, an independent research group that collects data on small arms and armed violence. The Japanese weapons law of 1958 states that “no one shall possess a firearm or firearms or sword or swords,” whereas the Second Amendment clearly supports the right of an American citizen to own a gun.

In Japan, citizens can purchase firearms for hunting and shooting sports only after completing an extremely lengthy background check. Applicants must attend an all-day class, pass a written test and receive at least 95 percent on a shooting range test. They then must pass a mental health evaluation at a hospital and a licensing procedure, in which authorities check the criminal record of the applicant and hold interviews with his or her family and friends. Every three years, weapon owners must retake the class as well as the initial test, and they can only purchase a rifle after 10 years of shotgun ownership.

Off-duty police in Japan cannot carry firearms, unlike in the U.S. In a country of more than 127 million people, Japan saw six gun deaths in 2014. The U.S. saw 33,599 fatalities in the same year.

Switzerland also has a low gun death rate similar to Japan’s. A United Nations report states that there were 0.5 homicides per 100,000 people in Switzerland, where the U.S. had five homicides per 100,000 people in 2010.

In a country of 8.3 million people, there are approximately 2 million civilian-owned guns, which translates to about 24 guns per 100 people. The National Rifle Association has previously used Switzerland in its marketing campaigns as a prime example of a peaceful country with a high number of guns.

A license is required for purchasing a gun in Switzerland, yet rifles and semi-automatics are exempt from this requirement. Permits to carry a gun around in a public setting are rarely issued to civilians. Switzerland also hosts shooting contests for teenagers, and all men are required to fight for the militia, where they learn how to properly handle a gun. The country also enforces an armed neutrality policy, which dictates that Switzerland is not to engage in an armed conflict with any other country. This policy was designed to ensure internal peace and security.

In order to comply with new laws implemented by the European Union, Switzerland will amend some of its policies that will, in turn, further restrict who can buy what guns.

“The Federal Council submitted draft legislation and proposed a pragmatic solution to incorporating the directive into Swiss law, a solution that upholds Switzerland’s shooting tradition,” Michael Maccabez, Media and Communications Manager for the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington D.C., said. “The upgrading of firearms which, up to now, were class B weapons, weapons subject to authorization, into class A weapons, prohibited weapons, requires the Weapons Act to be amended. Sports marksmen, collectors and museums must comply with additional requirements.

Countries like Switzerland have successfully maintained peace with societies that support guns. Nevertheless, the United States’ omnipresent gun culture has created passionate discussions between the two opposing factions.

This piece was originally published in the pages of the Winged Post on March 29, 2018.