[WiZ] You get used to the carjackings [LAID BARE]

[WiZ]

There is a country in which the area wherein the fewest people lock their cars is also the area wherein the most (civilian) people openly carry guns. Why?

True story. Caveat earlispoilor. OAATP rules apply.

[wunderland]

Fewest: as an overall number? a percentage of the area's population? a percentage of car owners in the area?

[LemonCurry]

PM sent.

[JenBurdoo]

Do the cars actually have doors?

[WiZ]

Wunderland

Fewest: as an overall number? a percentage of the area's population? this a percentage of car owners in the area?

LemonCurry

PM sent. You are correct!

JenBurdoo

Do the cars actually have doors? They do

[trebor]

Is the country in: North America? South America? Africa? Europe? Asia? Oceania/Australia?

[WiZ]

Is the country in: North America? South America? Africa? Europe? this Asia? Oceania/Australia?

[Hobbsicle]

I mean, the typical rural Texan probably sees no problem with your setup...

Are the guns intended for: self-defense against people? Self-defense against animals? Self-defense against the oncoming zombie horde? Hunting? Other sport?

[WiZ]

I mean, the typical rural Texan probably sees no problem with your setup... Yee haw! Point well made, pardner, I might have to add some qualifier like 'on the street' or 'at any time' to future iterations.

Are the guns intended for: self-defense against people? no Self-defense against animals? yes Self-defense against the oncoming zombie horde? No, although they could most likely be thus repurposed Hunting? no Other sport? no

[trebor]

PMing.

[JenBurdoo]

Is this set in Switzerland? Scandinavia?

[WiZ]

Trebor

PMing. Correct! It seems Futility Closet has taken over from QI as the source I really need to stop fishing from the same pier as.

JenBurdoo

Is this set in Switzerland? Scandinavia? This

[markobr]

PM sent.

[WiZ]

PM sent.

Correct, and even provided a justification I hadn't considered.

Anyone still interested in playing, or do we go by the rules of three-spoils-you're-out?

[Balin]

I'll take a shot.

Are they shooting moose in the road?

[WiZ]

I'll take a shot. Great. Grab a gun, there are plenty about.

Are they shooting moose in the road? no; this is not a traffic issue

[Mimino]

Is the region so sparsely populated that people rarely encounter someone else, let alone a car thief? Do the people in the region know each other (and each other's cars), which makes stealing difficult?
Do the people not lock the car door for practical reasons? so that a neighbor in need could use the car? so that the car lock would not freeze?

[JenBurdoo]

Does no one, or very few people, own cars or know how to drive them?

[WiZ]

Mimino

Is the region so sparsely populated it is, but this is irrelevant that people rarely encounter someone else, let alone a car thief? not relevantly Do the people in the region know each other (and each other's cars), which makes stealing difficult? no - assume there is still a baseline risk of car theft
Do the people not lock the car door for practical reasons? yes so that a neighbor in need could use the car? more or less yes, FA lurking so that the car lock would not freeze? no

JenBurdoo

Does no one, or very few people, own cars or know how to drive them? incorrect

[Mimino]

I assume they leave the car unlocked, but do not leave the car key in, right? So the idea is that someone could get shelter inside the car? from rain? frost? flood? bad weather? Do they leave the car open so that a homeless person could get a night's sleep?
Is the reason why they leave the car open directly related to the reason why they carry a weapon? (other than living in a region where apparently both makes sense)
Tourism relevant?

[WiZ]

I assume they leave the car unlocked, but do not leave the car key in, right? correct So the idea is that someone could get shelter inside the car? yes (slight 'ish' to 'shelter')from rain? frost? flood? bad weather? no to these Do they leave the car open so that a homeless person could get a night's sleep? no - although this could be a desirable side-effect
Is the reason why they leave the car open directly related to the reason why they carry a weapon? yes (other than living in a region where apparently both makes sense)
Tourism relevant? no

[Doriana]

Do they leave the cars open so that people can shelter from animals? Are the relevant animals bears? moose? reindeer?

[WiZ]

Do they leave the cars open so that people can shelter from animals? Are the relevant animals bears?

***** SPOILER ******

This puzzle concerns Svalbard in Norway, where people habitually carry guns to protect themselves from the polar bears that roam their town, and leave their cars unlocked so people can quickly seek refuge from bears if needed

Congratulations to Doriana (and LemonCurry, Trebor and Markobr) on the solution, congratulations to Futility Closet for thinking of this one first, and thank you everyone for playing!

[JenBurdoo]

I love it. Think I've got my first pick for 2021 Puzzle of the Year!