Traveler’s Notebook ran an interesting article discussing things that are generally legal in the United States, but severely punished in various other countries. For example, consuming alcohol Saudi Arabia can earn a person a public lashing, while slaughtering cows in India can land a person in prison for 5 years. Number 12 on that list, however, dealt with the United States – and was particularly interesting:
Breaking and entering in the U.S.
Okay, okay. You don’t want to do this anywhere, and if you do, you deserve whatever punishment you get. But try it in the U.S., where as many as 50% of homeowners keep a gun in the house, and your fate might be decided well before the cops show up.