Switzerland has a long tradition of gun ownership by civilians, as well as of target shooting practice, probably since 1291 at its very foundation with the first three cantons (Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden).
To raise the siege, Bern raised a force of 6,000, consisting of Bernese, supported by Forest Cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden (who had entered a military alliance with Bern in 1323), and other allies (Simmental, Weissenburg, Oberhasli).