Trust and Gun Control: Norway vs. America

Norway can restrict guns — and Americans say that would destroy freedom. But here’s the twist

most people miss. After a mass shooting in 2011, Norway didn’t split into sides.

It unified. Gun ownership stayed legal — but rules became stricter, background checks

tighter, and responsibility central. Why did it work? Norway is small

— about 5.5 million people — with high trust in institutions and very low fear of government abuse.

Guns were never tied to identity. In the U.S., guns aren’t just tools — they’re

symbols. With 330 million people, deep regional differences, historical mistrust,

and constitutional protection, gun policy becomes cultural warfare. Same tragedy.