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The Swiss might be giving up their arms

HardChrome

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From http://www.dailypress.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-eu-switzerland-army-guns,0,943350.story

It will be interesting to see what comes next.

Swiss to vote on controls that would end tradition of keeping army guns in private homes By Associated Press12:25 PM EST, February 23, 2009 GENEVA (AP) — Campaigners said Monday they have collected enough signatures to force a referendum in Switzerland on whether to confine army weapons to military compounds.

Service in the country's militia army is compulsory for men, and conscripts have to take their guns home between call-ups.

"Almost every day a person commits suicide with a firearm in Switzerland," said Josef Lang, a parliament member for the Green Party who is campaigning for the proposal alongside the Social Democrats, rights groups and others.

The referendum, a date for which has yet to be set, would also ask voters to decide whether to set up a countrywide firearms register and forbid citizens from buying particularly dangerous guns, such as pump-action rifles or automatic weapons, for personal use.


It goes far beyond a 2007 law that requires military ammunition to be stored on base — a move that was seen by many as the first step to dismantling the guns-at-home tradition.

Anita Fetz, a lawmaker for the Social Democrat Party, said a register would lead to more security and was worth the cost, which opponents claim would be immense. "Every single car and every cow in Switzerland are registered. Of course that costs something," she said.
 

shad0wfax

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The Swiss are the last bastion of firearms rights in europe. I hope they do not fall to socialism on this issue like they have on so many other issues. (Finland has gone by the wayside concerning firearms as well.)
 

colt45ws

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Ummm, shouldn't a weapon be dangerous? What is the actual Per capita Suicide rate and how does that compare to other places with tougher restrictions on "dangerous" weapons? Bleh.
 

suntzu

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It is a sad day for the Swiss. I hope the Swiss have at least a semblance of common sense left to them...
 

suntzu

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marshaul wrote:
Task Force 16 wrote:
I have to wonder, just how many of those suicides were committed using a military issued weapon?
Probably most of them.
So you stick a select fire weapon under your chin and send a 3rd burst into your head....makes perfect sense to me.
 

KBCraig

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shad0wfax wrote:
The Swiss are the last bastion of firearms rights in europe. I hope they do not fall to socialism on this issue like they have on so many other issues. (Finland has gone by the wayside concerning firearms as well.)

Consider the ethnic make-up of Switzerland:

1. Germans, who are genetically disposed towards law, order, rules, and regulations.

2. French, who love socialism.

3. Italians, who waver back and forth between the two.



I'm amazed they've lasted this long. Of course, New Hampshire has gone from two centuries of stubborn independence and small government, to total Democrat control, in four years.
 

GreenCountyPete

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GWbiker wrote:
Does gun ownership really lead to a high suicide rate in Switzerland? Check out the countries that have total gun control:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate

using this list i can make a very good argument that places that are cold several months of the year and have reduced sunlight hours , cause suicide

add to that mountainous regions , also cold and developed nationsyou know essentialy living the easy life.

clearly if haiti has no suicide hot, humid and full of some of the most deplorable living conditions on earth at least the western hemisphere africa is tought competition for badliving conditions , having it easy or being cold clearly stand out as the primary reasons to commit sucide



this is in no way poking fun at a very serios metal disease , just at people who feel the tool is the issue not the user.
 

Michigander

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Ya know, I gotta figure those who have military training could easily figure out a way to kill themselves with or without guns. :?
 

N00blet45

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What a great idea! Now we just need to ban razors, trains, buses, water, rope, electricity, pills, and high places and we'll be on our way to stopping all the suicides.
 

Thundar

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shad0wfax wrote:
The Swiss are the last bastion of firearms rights in europe. I hope they do not fall to socialism on this issue like they have on so many other issues. (Finland has gone by the wayside concerning firearms as well.)
Finland is also gun friendly.
 

KansasMustang

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Funny thing tho', you don't need a firearm to commit suicide as we all know. South Korea has the strictest gun control I know of. It is a death penalty for any citizen caught with a firearm, which the KNP (Korean National Police) may execute on the spot. The KNP are paramilitary forces and have total authority. As was aforementioned you don't need a firearm to commit sideways (suicide) just the will. Guess the Swiss would feel better if they were all jumping out of 30 story windows.
 

Grapeshot

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An individual bent on suicide will complete the act by whatever means is available.

Maybe they could accomplish the same thing (nothing) by simply making suicide illegal.

Again a proposal that doesn't do anything to solve the problem but punishes good people and would make them criminals.

Yata hey
 

Toymaker

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Most people can't be trusted, so we should have laws against guns, which most people will abide by because they can be trusted.:?

(line #27 of "40 Reasons For Gun Control")
 
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