On Sun, 13 Jan 2013 11:46:14 -0700, "Ray Keller"
wrote:

The Swiss have got it CORRECT !
We need to learn from the Swiss and implement their "gun control measures"
here in the United States right now, today!
These laws are the ones we should shove into the "2nd Amendment Haters"
faces.

" Today, military service for Swiss males is universal. At about age 20,
every Swiss male goes through 118 consecutive days of recruit training in
the Rekrutenschule. ...

Even before required training begins, young men and women may take
optional courses with the Swiss army's M57 assault rifle.
They keep that gun at home for three months and receive six half-day
training sessions.

From age 21 to 32, a Swiss man serves as a "frontline" troop in the
Auszug, and devotes three weeks a year (in eight of the 12 years) to
continued training.
From age 33 to 42, he serves in the Landwehr (like America's National
Guard); every few years, he reports for two-week training periods.
Finally, from ages 43, to 50, he serves in the Landsturm; in this period,
he only spends 13 days total in "home guard courses."

Over a soldier's career he also spends scattered days on mandatory
equipment inspections and required target practice.
Thus, in a 30-year mandatory military career, a Swiss man only spends
about one year in direct military service.
Following discharge from the regular army, men serve on reserve status
until age 50 (55 for officers).

By the Federal Constitution of 1874, military servicemen are given their
first equipment, clothing and arms.
After the first training period, conscripts must keep gun, ammunition and
equipment an ihrem Wohnort ("in their homes") until the end of their term of
service.

Today, enlisted men are issued M57 AUTOMATIC assault rifles and officers
are given pistol.
Each reservist is issued 24 rounds of ammunition in sealed packs for
emergency use.

It was 50 rounds, but not since 2007. Only special forces and MPs keep
ammunition at home now. All regular militia have to get it from an
armory.

You CANNOT keep government-issued or government-subsidized ammo for
your army-issued gun at home. It's issued to the official firing
ranges, and must be kept there.

(Contrary to Handgun Control's claim that "all ammunition must be
accounted for," the emergency ammunition is the only ammo that requires
accounting.)

After discharge from service, the man is given a bolt rifle free from
registration or obligation.
Starting in the 1994, the government will GIVE ex-reservists assault
rifles. Officers carry pistols rather than rifles and are given their
pistols the end of their service.

Militia service is over at age 30. After that, all retained assault
rifles must be returned to the armory or factory to have the
select-fire function removed and permanently disabled. Once your
millitary service is over, you turn in your gun or the gun is reduced
to semi-automatic. If you buy ammo for it, the purchase is recorded
with your name, ID, etc.

Many militiamen turn in their guns at age 30. Only about half as many
Swiss households have guns as US households, as a percentage.


When the government adopts a new infantry rifle, it sells the old ones to
the public.

Reservists are encouraged to buy MILITARY ammunition
(7.5 and 5.6mm-5.56 mm in other countries-for rifles and 9 and 7.65 mm
Luger for pistols)
which is sold AT COST by the government, for target practice .

If it's military-subsidized, it cannot be taken home. It can only be
used at a participating range.

Non-military ammunition for long-gun hunting and .22 Long Rifle (LR) ammo
are not subsidised, but are subiect to NO sales controls.

This is behind the times. All ammo sales are now recorded (Schengen
Treaty, 2008).

Non-military non-hunting ammunition more powerful than .22 LR (such as .38
Spl.) is registered at the time of sale.

Swiss military ammo must be registered IF bought at a private store, BUT
NEED NOT BE REGISTERED IF bought at a range.

It also can't be removed from the range.

The nation's 3,000 shooting ranges sell the overwhelming majority of
ammunition.
Technically, ammunition bought at the range must be used at the range, but
the rule is barely known and almost never obeyed.

Don't try it.


The army SELLS a variety of machine guns, submachine guns, anti-tank
weapons, anti-aircraft guns, howitzers and cannons.
Purchasers of these weapons require an EASILY OBTAINED cantonal license,
and the weapons are registered.

Yeah. "Easily obtained." Like getting a carry permit in New York City.
g


In a nation of six million people, there are at least two million guns,
including 600,000 FULLY AUTOMATIC assault rifles, half a million pistols,
and numerous machine guns.
Virtually every home has a gun.

A Gallup Europe survey done in 2005 says it's 28.6% of Swiss
households.


Besides SUBSIDIZED military surplus, the Swiss can buy other firearms
easily too.

With a NJ-style purchase permit, which is good for buying three guns.

While long guns require NO special purchase procedures, handguns are sold
only to those with a Waffenerwerbsschien (purchase certificate) issued by a
cantonal authority.

Long gun sales must be registered (by the seller) with the government,
too, since 2008.

Prior to that, under a gun act enacted in 1999, private sellers AND
buyers of long guns have to carry a contract detailing the purchase
and personal IDs of buyer and seller for TEN YEARS. Failure to do so
will land you in the hoosegow.

A certificate is issued to every applicant over 18 who is not a criminal
or mentally infirm.

If the Cantonal police like your face.


There are NO restrictions on the carrying of long guns.

Bull. It is very limited -- almost identical to the transport laws in
NJ.


About half the cantons have strict permit procedures for carrying
handguns, and the other half have NO rules at all.

Out of date info.

There is NO discernible difference in the crime rate between the cantons
as a result of the different policies.

Thanks to a lawsuit brought by the Swiss gun lobby, semi-automatic rifles
require NO PURCHASE PERMIT and are NOT registered by the government.
Thus, the ONLY long guns registered by the government are FULL
AUTOMATICS."

Bull. The "free" long guns don't require a purchase permit, but the
vendor has to notify the government of all sales, including ID of the
purchaser.


The Swiss have got it CORRECT !
Let's adopt THEIR LAWS !

They're about like those of New Jersey, on the average.


Remember:
The beauty of the Second Amendment is
that it will not be needed
until they TRY to take it.
Read Second Amendment: It's Not About Hunting, IT'S ABOUT TYRANNY .


Whoever wrote the soapy explanation of Swiss gun laws is either years
behind the times, or is playing games. The laws are also pretty
complicated: for example, the restrictions for handguns vary by
caliber.

Switzerland has a set of gun laws that aren't a lot different from
those of some of our coastal states. Some are more lax, and some are
tougher. Breaking ANY gun law in Switzerland is going to land you in
big trouble.

The ARs issued to the 20 - 30 year-old militiamen can't be carried out
of your house except for very limited reasons.

Overall, I'd rather be dealing with my New York State laws than Swiss
laws.


Scraper