I recently read a post that stated that Switzerland required every citizen to own a gun and that they had the lowest instances of gun violence than any other country in the world. Therefore we should allow everyone to own a gun. Well…as with EVERYTHING pro-gun on the internet, this is mostly bullshit. It turns out that after researching how the Swiss handle guns in their country the truth is something a little different and a lot more intelligent. You know…intelligence…that virtue the gun lobby lacks.
First of all in Switzerland everyone between the ages of 20 and 30 must join the militia and obtain military weapons training. For those of you who can read, gun possession in a militia is what our own Constitution guarantees, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” It doesn’t say you get to have a gun no matter what. That would be crazy. You know…like you are. Switzerland’s militia laws are actually where the uneducated idiots of the gun nut group get their idea that everyone must own a gun. I guess in their world Switzerland is really Logan’s Run.
In Switzerland when you are conscripted (that means you don’t have freedom of choice) into the militia your personally issued weapon is kept at home. Here’s the interesting part. You don’t get to keep the military issued ammunition at home. However, you can purchase private ammunition for the weapon. However…and here’s another interesting piece of information left out of the discussion…you have to have a gun license to own the ammunition. That’s right, to own the ammunition, you have to have a license for the weapon for which you are purchasing said ammo. Let’s see THAT law get passed in the U.S.
Now, to make things more interesting, when you are discharged from the militia after age 30 (34 if you are an officer), you can then apply for a private license. However, these are usually only issued to people who work in some type of security service where a weapon is needed for the job. In other words, not just any Joe Schmuck can own an assault weapon. In short, it is actually HARDER to own a gun in Switzerland than in the U.S., not easier. Also, you are almost guaranteed that the person with the gun has the training and expertise to use the damn thing. Not like in the U.S. where any knuckle dragger who can put an X in the signature box, and barely obtain the brain power to stand erect.
Once a person has been released from the Militia, they can keep their military issued weapon if, 1. They have applied for AND received a private weapon’s permit (not easily obtained), and 2. The weapon is turned into a single shot rifle from an automatic weapon. Also, keep in mind that to get ammunition for the weapon they must have a permit for the weapon because as mentioned before, you cannot buy ammunition for a gun you do not own. You have to produce a permit for that weapon to get the ammo for it. This would definitely keep down the deaths from guns purchased at gun shows where there are no background checks.
There are 3 main reasons why there are fewer gun deaths in Switzerland than in the U.S. They are likely difficult for you to comprehend, but I’ll try.
Reason One: In the United States it is legal for anyone to own a firearm as long as they are not a felon. You can still be a complete moron. You don’t need a permit to actually own a gun either. You need the permit to conceal it. Given that any yahoo can own a firearm, you get a lot of uneducated and untrained people handling firearms. This means a lot of people are killed and injured each year just through being an idiot. It also means people on no fly lists (a.k.a. known terrorists) can own firearms as well. You also get the mentally ill, mentally incompetent, and judgmentally challenged. All too many people who should not be anywhere near a gun.
Reason Two: Switzerland’s economy is such that crime is lower than the U.S. They have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. They don’t have the poverty we do. Their system provides healthcare to everyone, economic programs for the needy, and they make sure everyone that can work is working. Their population is also smaller than any of our major cities, making it easier to manage economic stress.
Reason Three: They don’t poke their noses into the business of other countries. Since before WWII Switzerland has been the land of neutrality. They don’t get a lot of people pissed at them because they try to dabble in the daily economics and political battles of places they don’t belong. We’re the kings of pissing off the world because we can’t mind our own business. This makes us vulnerable to attack from people who want nothing more than to be left alone.
Now Oly, if you still think that you will have more gun freedom if you go to Switzerland, then let me know. I’ll be happy to open a gofundme page for you so you can go there. It will make it safer for everyone if for no other reason than your level of ignorance will be there and not here.
Rex