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Tighter Gun Laws Approved by Swiss Voters Despite Opposition

posted by janrinok on Thursday May 23 2019, @02:39PM   
from the urban-rural-divide dept.

saturnalia0 writes:

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.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2019/05/19/tighter-gun-laws-appear-pass-switzerland-despite-opposition/3731629002/

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Original Submission

• Re:Depends on how you look at it Re:Depends on how you look at it (Score: 2) by PartTimeZombie on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:10PM (2 children)

  by PartTimeZombie (4827) on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:10PM (#846834)

  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.

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• Re:Depends on how you look at it Re:Depends on how you look at it (Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:58PM (1 child)

  by bob_super (1357) on Thursday May 23 2019, @11:58PM (#846846)

  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.

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  • Re:Depends on how you look at it (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 24 2019, @12:53AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 24 2019, @12:53AM (#846855)

    Duck hunters don't use 5.56 rounds, usually.

    If you are using an assault rifle for duck hunting then you are doing it wrong.

    Parent