The Swiss also have compulsory military service (at least for men) where they theoretically teach you how to use and presumably not be a dummy with your gun.

You also need a permit to buy a gun. Shall-issue for most of the guns I'd categorize as more reasonable, but still need to put in for the permit. Automatics have quite stringent requirements on their may-issue permits. High-cap magazines are not available. Universal registration & background check and "red flag"-style blocks on any purchases.

Ammo is also included in these rules, essentially.

Second-hand sales require a paper trail conforming to many of these rules with a decade-long statute of limitations to prove legitimate transfer that is also reported to the state authority.

Storage methods are regulated. Failure to report a lost/stolen weapon to police is bad news for you.

You need a permit to carry which is mostly only given to people who have occupational need to carry -- like the old NYC law where you have to state a plausible need. Otherwise, when and where you can carry is limited to basically sport or similar events.

And there's more. Not to mention their culture of training and safety around it because of their military and militia requirements.

I'm all for imposing Swiss-style gun rules on the US. It would restrict guns a lot. The people who appeal to how great they are with guns and how it is "proof" that gun restrictions aren't a good solution just haven't even done basic research about what the gun situation actually is in Switzerland.

Fetishize is probably the word you want. Guns aren’t a tool here, they’re a symbol

Glorify?

I think the word is "fetishize"

I think a large part of it is the politicization of firearms that has made gun ownership a lifestyle choice for unstable people.

You've got a bunch of crazy conspiracy theorists being told that the liberals are out to kill their god and take their weapons, so they stock up on weapons that they use when they finally crack.

We've manufactured a system where the mentally unstable are actively encouraged to arm themselves.

Deify. They deify guns.

I use the word 'clutch' often, as a baby with a blanket or an old nerd with vi. They're unwilling to find a better solution than a gun, and the gun lobby tells us it's all okay as long as we have our Glock.

...come to think of it, so much rap music seemed to do the same, for awhile.

I agree with you. There is no need for a comment war.

Flaunt? It really is w divide. We have normal people, some of whom are responsible gun owners but most of whom don't have guns, and then we have that crowd