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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, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 23 2019, @10:31PM (3 children)
Violence was very common before people got guns. Guns are the great equalizer.
We quickly forget why modern life is relatively peaceful, then we blame the guns for the rare remaining violence. Britain is now facing an uptick in violence, having decided that there is no right to defend yourself with a gun.
(Score: 2) by pipedwho on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:13PM (2 children)
Violence is correlated with political oppression and general economical unrest. It has nothing to do with criminals being scared of return fire.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:46PM
Political oppression and unrest have nothing to do with people attacking the criminals who are responsible and fester under such circumstances? I can't believe this was said non-AC.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 24 2019, @02:02AM
Not quite so over the span of history. Britain experienced a steep drop in violent crime with the introduction of the wheel-lock and an even greater drop with the introduction of the cheap flintlock (*). Since ending the English right to bear arms in the early 1900s, murder has crept up and assaults have exploded -- as in 200x or more.
Let me find the citation:
Carlisle Moody: overview: https://billlawrenceonline.com/carlisle-moody-handguns-stop-murders/ [billlawrenceonline.com]
Actual study: http://economics.wm.edu/wp/cwm_wp158.pdf [wm.edu]
It makes sense when you think about it. Before firearms, the average 40 or 50 year old stood no chance against a hulked up 19 year old with nothing but fists, a stick or a knife. After the gun, the playing field was leveled and even if the ruffian also carried a gun, it was still a mere even fight. Take away the guns, and the thugs get free pickings -- just look at Britain and the change in assault rates: 2.39/100k in 1920, to 419.29/100k in 1999.
(*) From the study itself: