When I think of Switzerland I think of a country that maintains neutrality. One would therefore think that it is a country that abhors violence and takes a ‘progressive’ stance on issues such as gun control, wouldn’t one?
Not necessarily.
Why is the crime rate so low? It’s the same reason that criminals know which neighborhoods or houses to target for their crimes. The gun-crimes in Switzerland are so low they don’t even keep records. The same is true of Kennesaw, Georgia, for the same reasons.
If you intend to invade someones home, will you pick the home in which you know the owners have guns and will defend themselves or will you pick the home in which you know the owners don’t have guns with which to defend themselves?
Check out the Swiss attitude about guns.
Guns are deeply rooted within Swiss culture - but the gun crime rate is so low that statistics are not even kept.
The country has a population of six million, but there are estimated to be at least two million publicly-owned firearms, including about 600,000 automatic rifles and 500,000 pistols.
This is in a very large part due to Switzerland’s unique system of national defence, developed over the centuries.
Instead of a standing, full-time army, the country requires every man to undergo some form of military training for a few days or weeks a year throughout most of their lives.
Between the ages of 21 and 32 men serve as frontline troops. They are given an M-57 assault rifle and 24 rounds of ammunition which they are required to keep at home.
Once discharged, men serve in the Swiss equivalent of the US National Guard, but still have to train occasionally and are given bolt rifles. Women do not have to own firearms, but are encouraged to.
Few restrictions
In addition to the government-provided arms, there are few restrictions on buying weapons. Some cantons restrict the carrying of firearms - others do not.
The government even sells off surplus weaponry to the general public when new equipment is introduced.
Guns and shooting are popular national pastimes. More than 200,000 Swiss attend national annual marksmanship competitions.
But despite the wide ownership and availability of guns, violent crime is extremely rare. There are only minimal controls at public buildings and politicians rarely have police protection.
Mark Eisenecker, a sociologist from the University of Zurich told BBC News Online that guns are “anchored” in Swiss society and that gun control is simply not an issue.
Some pro-gun groups argue that Switzerland proves their contention that there is not necessarily a link between the availability of guns and violent crime in society.
I have to disagree with this last sentence. I think there is a definite link between the availability of guns and violent crime in society. Responsible gun ownership by law abiding citizens deters violent crime.
Low crime
But other commentators suggest that the reality is more complicated.
Switzerland is one of the world’s richest countries, but has remained relatively isolated.
It has none of the social problems associated with gun crime seen in other industrialised countries like drugs or urban deprivation.
This is undoubtedly an element to the lack of gun crimes in Switzerland. There’s always multi-levels to these kinds of issues. However, the argument still remains the same. If you want to commit a gun crime, Switzerland or anywhere else in which you know that you will be confronted with a ‘victim’ who is capable and willing to defend themselves, is not a place you would pick to perpetrate a crime.
Despite the lack of rigid gun laws, firearms are strictly connected to a sense of collective responsibility.
From an early age Swiss men and women associate weaponry with being called to defend their country.
This is something that I think we are lacking in our country. It’s a relatively new phenomenon in which we no longer seem to have a sense of collective responsibility. Rather, there are segments of our population that seem to feel no responsibility what so ever for the well-being and security of our nation. It’s someone else’s problem.
Many take their security for granted out of pure naivety. Others are only concerned with their own goals and plans. They just want to build their portfolio and look down their noses at those who choose to serve the country out of a sense of duty.
I personally have thought for a long time that mandatory service to the country would do our country a world of good. If someone is unable to serve in the military for whatever reason, there are plenty of other ways a person can serve the country. The discipline, self-esteem, selflessness and sense of comradeship would be nothing but productive for a generation and our country.
Digg this story here.
Raven at And Rightly So is thinking along the same lines. Guns and Shooting are Popular National Pastimes
After the Wall came down we had missions into the former Soviet Union, and as we chatted with former Ruskies and KGB types over Stoli and Jack shooters, and they told us that IF they invaded our shores, they feared going house to house in 50 states for they were aware of our Second Amendment - bigtime! Prost to our 2nd Amendment!!
LOL I posted about this this am! GMTA moment!!
Barack Obama Gun Control Policy…
A couple of interesting things have happened since the media has declared Barack Obama our next President. One is that the economy took a nose dive. The other is that gun sales have skyrocketed. The gun sales could have something to do with Obama…
The thing that keeps coming up in my mind while I read this article is the fact that in many - if not most - cases of gun violence in urban areas of America, the perpetrators of the crime are in fact knowingly engaging people that may also be armed. I am referring to gang violence. The collateral damage is the eye opener for Americans, but the intention in most cases of the situation is that the perpetrators are often times engaging a potentially armed “rival”. This is strictly speaking of urban instances.
If this were the case, then the issue is an issue of feeling hatred and the feeling of separation - racially, socially, or gang related. The dysfunction is likely to be mostly related to weak education and an individuals ability to hold on to the past in a very negative way.