Posted on 12/03/2001 11:25:49 AM PST by tarawa
Switzerland and the gun
Switzerland has long maintained its armed neutrality
Guns are deeply rooted within Swiss culture - but the gun crime rate is so low that statistics are not even kept. The country has a population of six million, but there are estimated to be at least two million publicly-owned firearms, including about 600,000 automatic rifles and 500,000 pistols.
This is in a very large part due to Switzerland's unique system of national defence, developed over the centuries.
Instead of a standing, full-time army, the country requires every man to undergo some form of military training for a few days or weeks a year throughout most of their lives.
Between the ages of 21 and 32 men serve as frontline troops. They are given an M-57 assault rifle and 24 rounds of ammunition which they are required to keep at home.
Once discharged, men serve in the Swiss equivalent of the US National Guard, but still have to train occasionally and are given bolt rifles. Women do not have to own firearms, but are encouraged to.
Few restrictions
In addition to the government-provided arms, there are few restrictions on buying weapons. Some cantons restrict the carrying of firearms - others do not.
The government even sells off surplus weaponry to the general public when new equipment is introduced.
Guns and shooting are popular national pastimes. More than 200,000 Swiss attend national annual marksmanship competitions.
But despite the wide ownership and availability of guns, violent crime is extremely rare. There are only minimal controls at public buildings and politicians rarely have police protection.
Mark Eisenecker, a sociologist from the University of Zurich told BBC News Online that guns are "anchored" in Swiss society and that gun control is simply not an issue.
Some pro-gun groups argue that Switzerland proves their contention that there is not necessarily a link between the availability of guns and violent crime in society.
Low crime
But other commentators suggest that the reality is more complicated.
Switzerland is one of the world's richest countries, but has remained relatively isolated.
It has none of the social problems associated with gun crime seen in other industrialised countries like drugs or urban deprivation.
Despite the lack of rigid gun laws, firearms are strictly connected to a sense of collective responsibility.
From an early age Swiss men and women associate weaponry with being called to defend their country.
In World War II, the Swiss had defenses no other country had. Let's begin with the rifle in every home combined with the Alpine terrain. When the German Kaiser asked in 1912 what the quarter of a million Swiss militiamen would do if invaded by a half million German soldiers, a Swiss replied: shoot twice and go home.
Found in Target Switzerland
They could sell some to us U.S. gun enthusiasts (not "gun nuts) anytime.
Let's re-write this sentence: "Because of the the wide ownership and availability of guns, violent crime is extremely rare."
That implies that the Swiss would be criminals if it weren't for their guns, which is hardly accurate. I think a better case for causation would be made by pointing out that they have a long-standing, homogenous culture and fairly strong traditions. They don't need guns to stay safe. American's cannot say the same.
And you would be wrong. The Swiss have four official languages and rivalries between the various Cantons. They've become a peaceable lot, because they have huge amounts of local control and a weak federal government. Most Swiss don't even know, who their President is. Two, I believe in deterence. If you raise the cost of crime to the criminals, you'll have less crime. That's what widespread ownership of guns leads too. The habits and traditions developed out of this practice. You're putting the cart before the horse.
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