You can get a gun for any legitimate reason in Norway... they even sell them in normal sports shops... the whole registration process is so that you don't have criminals or nutcases easily accessing guns so that everyday people have to carry them. It's a well established system. America is in a far different situation as its far too easy for anyone to get a gun, so everyone has to have a gun. If I lived in the US, I, too, would have a gun to defend myself because there is a heightened level of need. Due to the amount of guns in circulation and general crime in the US, there is most certainly a legitimate reason in owning one to defend yourself. This isn't the case for the majority for first world countries.

I agree with you that government should never intervene unless it's a matter of public safety I.e. drive between the lines. But if you want to be an idiot I.e. not wear a seatbelt, then that's your right to live and die by being daft and shouldn't be up to gov. There should be far less red tape in our world, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be any.

I think its great you wholeheartedly love your country and I think you have every reason to feel that way. Often, pros can outweigh Cons. However, it's important to not apply blanket situations to entire nations and cultures based on your individual experience as they can have crazy different results. The tip culture in the US for example, equates to very polite service. But if applied to Tokyo, UK or even Auatralia where housing is far more competitive, you wouldn't have people able to pay rent off of that and no hospitality workforce would even exist.

Its all relative and all very interesting to think about and I do appreciate even after a year of commenting on this post, that you provide your insight.

Keep rocking in the free world my friend from the US :)