Posted on 02/13/2011 7:37:18 AM PST by Incorrigible
by Hui Min Neo Hui Min Neo
GENEVA (AFP) – Switzerland, which has the highest rate of suicide by firearms in Europe, voted Sunday to hold fast to its long-standing tradition of letting citizens keep army-issue weapons at home.
A referendum, launched by a coalition of non-governmental groups, religious authorities and centre-left parties, sought to get the weapons stored in armouries instead.
The initiative also wanted to abolish the practice of allowing those on military service to keep their government-issue assault rifles even after they leave the army.
Just two hours after polls closed, 22 out of 26 cantons returned final results, with a majority of cantons -- 17 -- voting firmly against the move.
...
Swiss society is built on trust between the citizen and the state, he argued.
"If we take away the weapon, which represents this trust, that means that we are breaking the sacred union between democracy and citizen."
...
Nevertheless, some have been alarmed by episodes such as the 2001 shooting in central Switzerland's Zug canton, when 14 people were gunned down during a local parliament sitting.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Gotta love the editorializing right in the first sentence.
I'm glad the Swiss understand the relationship between individual rights to arms and democracy.
Swiss are, in general, immune to arguments that start with the supposition that you can do something about suicide!
Good to hear, I was seeing some scary polls that this crap might pass there earlier.
The Swiss have been doing this since before WWII.
Why change things now? Is society so different?
Confront the suicide rate as a separate problem. Guns don’t make people want to commit suicide.
I don’t understand how people could get so worked up about firearms suicides in a nation that has legalized assisted suicide/euthanasia since 1941. In fact one needn’t even be a medical doctor to assist with a suicide in Switzerland.
no guns???
so the suicides will jump outta windows if they take away their guns...and kill people on the ground and/or squash George Costanzas car.
“If we take away the weapon, which represents this trust, that means that we are breaking the sacred union between democracy and citizen.”
Now that is a good statement. A government that wants to take away your weapons is one not worthy of your trust.
Notice they didn’t discuss the rate of violent crime (murder, rape, home invasion, etc.) with respect to Europe??? That’s because its the lowest......hmmmmmm. Wonder why that is?
Well, that part actually makes sense. Why should the military be paying for people to have guns? They should buy their own.
The article fails to mention where Switzerland stands in overall suicide rates compared to the rest of Europe.
***Swiss society is built on trust between the citizen and the state, he argued.****
Our US government went to great extremes to destroy the trust between the government and the citizens in the 1900s.
I always thought Hungary had the highest suicide rate in Europe.
And that Japan has the highest suicide rate in the world, where the citizens have no guns, BTW.
I like the Swiss custom of veterans displaying in their homes all the guns issued them and their forefathers for generations back, from muzzleloaders to full autos.
I've had a few of them shooting guns off my back porch bench and eventually, we get to talking about guns in Europe. The tell me anybody can buy cheap pistols for $100 on the street, but most Swiss don't even bother cause not much crime to speak of. When I asked them about their HK in the basement, they said they never even drug the gun out to shoot until they have to go to summer camp for military. Swiss must have the most civilized society out there.
They like shooting as much as the nx guy; I have a 200 yard range at the house and we have sat for hours shooting targets, over a few beers and I'll say one thing for the Swiss; they are as easy going as the Japanese.
Got to love the Swiss
That complusion rate would skyrocket IF it came with a clause that compulsion was ONLY for the defense of the Continental United States and Alaska, and held territories (not leased territories).
Our constitution already provides for exactly that - a Navy (and its Marines) without qualifications or limitations during peacetime - and the organized and unorganized militias of the various states available to the President to repel invasions.
Problem is - our government does not obey the Constitution.
=8-)
I am glad he Swiss have the their heads on straight. It might be a place I’d like to move too.
They are are the Swiss militia. They are required to have guns at home and take part in target practice and training occasionally, I believe.
It’s extremely hard to become a Swiss citizen, and I suspect not too easy to get a long term visa either. They understand how good they have it and keep it to themselves. Wise people.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.