Markup View

Author: Fanra

May 25th 2011 at 11:45:02 PM

->Since not having weapons restrictions is the default position, make the trope be about when there are restrictions on who and what weapons you can have.

Contrary to some Second Amendment fans versions of history, most societies have had weapons restrictions throughout history.  Even the WildWest had signs outside of towns stating that you couldn't bring your guns into town.

In the European MiddleAges, only nobles could carry weapons or own swords.  The idea in England that all free men were ''required'' to own a longbow and practice it often was revolutionary and a reason that England was a major power.

Everyone carried a dagger, as you needed it to cut your meat during mealtimes, as well as a useful utility tool since most people did manual labor.  But beyond that, only noble born could own or carry weapons.  If the peasants were drafted into the army (which rarely happened and only during certain times of the year, after all, if they didn't tend to the crops everyone would starve) they were given weapons to use during that time and returned them when they left the army.