Jim said:
Not that drivel about Switzerland. I find drivel all the time. I did a
Google and found this non-drivel:
<
http://groups.google.co.uk/group/al...k=st&q=&&hl=en&lnk=st&q=#doc_780cb73a19b4e5f4>
Here it cut and pasted. ......
Gun control in Switzerland
1. The Swiss militia
Military service in Switzerland is compulsory and all male Swiss citizens
incorporated in combatant militia units are taught how to shoot, beginning
at age 20 with basic military training. Rifle clubs teach younger men how
to shoot in voluntary preparatory courses.
All combatant militia troops (ages 20 to 50) are obliged to keep their
personal weapon, normally an automatic assault rifle and ammunition at home.
The army takes effective possession of some secure storage space for the
draftee's equipment, including the gun, in the latter's home.
Every male over 18 fit for military service is issued a type of M16 gun with
rounds of ammnuition to be used in the event of war, that same gun must be
presented twice annually to the inspection station with all sealed
ammuntion.
It is strictly forbidden to use the military weapons for any non-authorized
prposes. While each militiaman keeps some sealed ammunition at home, he is
under no circumstances allowed to use the ammunition for any private use.
A militiaman who uses his military weapon for unauthorized and improper
purposes may, under military criminal law, be sentenced to prison or, if the
offense is of small gravity, be punished by disciplinary action.
2. The purchasing of private firearms
The purchase of firearms and ammunition is subject to cantonal (State)
legislation, and the regulations vary from Canton to Canton. Some minimal
rules have, however, been agreed upon in a so-called "Concordat" which binds
all Cantons.
In this "Concordat" in its latest revision of 1970 it is stated
a) that whoever sells firearms and ammunition commercially must have an
authorization (firearm-sale permit) issued by the competent authority of the
canton where the business is domiciled;
b) commercial sales of firearms are only allowed to persons presenting a
duly signed "firearms purchase certificate" issued by the competent
authorities of the canton where the purchaser is domiciled;
c) such purchase certificates are not issued to persons under 18 years of
age, to mentally ill people, to persons under guardianship, to alcoholics,
as well as to persons with a criminal record, or if reasonable suspicion of
doing harm with a weapon to themselves or third parties exists.
d) persons authorized to sell firearms are required to keep detailed
records containing the date of sale, the exact personal data of the
purchaser, the number, issuing authority and date of the "purchase
certificate", as well as the type and serial number of the firearm.
The purchase of a firearm requires a permit in all Swiss cantons. The
carrying and transportation of firearms and other weapons to is subject to
the issuance of a special permit in the following cantons:
Zurich, Lucerne, Schwyz, Obwalden, Freiburg, Solothurn, Basel City,
Schaffhausen, Appenzell Interior Rhodes, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Ticino,
Neuchatel, Geneva.
The "Weapon Rules" of the Canton of Zurich, which regulates the trade in
weapons and ammunition as well as the carrying and owning of weapons, and
are fairly representative of other cantonal rules, subject the carrying of
handguns, gasguns, pointed weapons (such as daggers, etc.), blunt weapons
(such as knuckledusters, etc.), as well as the transportation of these
weapons in public transport facilities to a personal permit (weapon permit),
valid up to 2 years, if danger to the applicant's person or property can be
substantiated. Private ownership of machine pistols, machine guns, explosive
weapons (i.e. hand grenades and bombs) as well as weapon simulating articles
of daily use, is prohibited.
Automatic and Semiautomatic weapons can only be purchased (and carried)
with a special permit issued by the Federal Military Department (Department
of Defense), after consultation with the Federal Police, and a special
cantonal authorization which generally is only granted to collectors.
_____
The US gun lobby presents a myth of Swiss parading around the streets with
loaded automatic weapons ready to blow away criminals. In fact Swiss Army
reservists that keep weapons at home are required to have them unloaded and
locked up. The small supply of ammunition is kept sealed. Only able bodied
men between 18 and mid 40s have an army gun at home. Women are not called
up. After service the gun goes back to the army. Most Swiss do not have
military hardware at home.
American housholds are far more likely to have a firearm than Swiss.
