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Swiss voters on Sunday approved a measure to tighten the Alpine nation's gun laws, bringing the country in line with many of its European partners despite the objections of local gun owners, Swiss media reported, citing official results.
Switzerland's public broadcaster said more than 63% of voters nationwide agreed to align with European Union firearms rules adopted two years ago after deadly attacks in France, Belgium, Germany and Britain.
The vote Sunday was part of Switzerland's regular referendums that give citizens a direct say in policymaking. It had stoked passions in a country with long, proud traditions of gun ownership and sport and target shooting. Switzerland, unlike many other European nations, allows veterans of its obligatory military service for men to take home their service weapons after tours of duty.
The Swiss proposal, among other things, requires regular training on the use of firearms, special waivers to own some semi-automatic weapons and serial number tracking system for key parts of some guns. Gun owners would have to register any weapons not already registered within three years, and keep a registry of their gun collections.
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Thursday May 23 2019, @09:58PM (7 children)
Just like where I live. No-one argues that farmers should give up their shotguns or .22 because they're a tool for vermin control, or hunting, which is often the same thing.
We have decided however that no-one really needs an AR-15, because why?
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday May 23 2019, @10:09PM (4 children)
Flip the question : considering the proven risks of having such weapons indiscriminately disseminated, who actually needs one ?
(Setting aside the sanity of the tiny minority who truly believes they will imminently take arms against the Evil People in D.C., rather then ask the Military to defend the constitution, as we all know and respect them to do)
(Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:10PM (2 children)
You're quite right of course, no-one actually needs a firearm, vermin control can be done just as easily with traps and poison, but if people want to go duck shooting (very popular in my country) then I have no problem with it, and neither do most people.
The average duck hunter is more likely to hurt themselves in a road accident than a hunting one.
Also ducks are pests and the numbers need to be controlled. See also: Deer, pigs.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:58PM (1 child)
You specifically asked about the AR-15. That's the one I'm returning the question about the "need" for.
Duck hunters don't use 5.56 rounds, usually.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 24 2019, @12:53AM
If you are using an assault rifle for duck hunting then you are doing it wrong.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:51PM
The military is under control of Trump, they will be the ones rounding you up and torturing you until you give names for more people to torture. Look at Pinochet for an exemplary scenario. And don't forget to look at who was supporting that guy either.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 24 2019, @07:26PM
Because why doesn't one need an AR-15? Because they possess the ready capacity to fire 20-30 shots without reloading which gives an attacker an advantage, where the typical shotgun or .22 does not.
Because why does one need an AR-15? Aside from target shooting (AR's are very fun target rifles and actually work well at varmint hunting with the right loads), presumably because the only final check against having a standing army which can be used against a populace is to take up arms against it. U.S.S.R. Occupied Afghanistan pretty well showed the need to have advanced weaponry to stand up to a nation-state aggressor (witness the supply of the Mujahadeen by the U.S.) U.S Occupied Afghanistan likewise showed how much an armed populace can screw with an established authority. Wikipedia, for example, says about 20% of Afghanistan is still under Taliban control. I don't like that, but it does give an indication of what is possible when one has good equipment.
That's entirely aside from their value in home defense, generally considered a go-to choice for rifle home defense in the U.S.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 24 2019, @08:51PM
in the US a free person has the right to defend oneself from the tyrannical government. "of current police and military use"! you're so brainwashed you think the government is working in your interest like a god or a parent. they are your master and you are a fucking groveling victim.