Switzerland DOES NOT issue every adult with a gun and teach them how to use it. Rifles are issued to army conscripts who go through 3 years of basic training and are then discharged with their guns. This is because Switzerland does not have a standing army and if they are invaded, they can call on the trained personnel to break out the rifles and defend the country. Gun laws are very strict and if a gun is used improperly for any reason, the perpetrator is harshly dealt with. It seems every gun nut has a new story every week supporting idiots running around with assault rifles.

Now figure in the amount of homicides by other means, other than firearms. I am sure you will find that in these other countries they have found other ways to kill people, since it is not the gun that kills, but the person. I know that there are definitely more deaths through bombings in the UK, since you are always hearing on the news about places being fire bombed.

While I'm pro guns, I can't understand why do the people advocating for less gun control conveniently omit the word "conscription" when talking about guns and Switzerland?

Oh wait, I know why. It sounds cooler when one talks about how the Swiss government simply gives guns and offers training to anyone who asks for it. They don't give you the choice. They require all males to serve in the "militia". And after the training, you go home and take your gun with you to store at home in case of an invasion by a foreign state.

And the rounds issued by the government aren't to be used for any other purpose. They are inspected. (I think they changed the rules, so not sure about the procedure now.) But that ammunition is/was to be kept in a sealed container. Not actually loaded in a rifle.

While I think their system is brilliant (for a small country at least), I don't like the idea of anyone being forced by the government to do anything.

Oh, and they also don't issue carry permits on "shall issue" basis. So if you ever want to carry a gun with you, you would need to prove to the government that it's absolutely required -- and your safety as a private citizen is not a good enough reason.

You need to either be carrying a lot of cash or other valuables as part of your occupation, or you need to be a famous figure with stalkers harassing/threatening you. Otherwise, no permit. It's not much different from the NYC gun laws (practices), which are total crap.

Solid Democrat and always have been. I've lived to retire too. I'm voting this fall too and doing all I can to get Dem's elected. I even send letters to the editors. do you want to know anymore. Oh yes, I own three guns. I hunt water fowl and am a avid deer hunter since age 15. I have yet to need more than 3 shots to take a deer. When hunting water fowl the DNR imposes a 3-shot plug for my shot-gun. I don't need more than that either. You guy's who advocate they are going to take our guns are just catering to the NRA and the Gun lobbist and gun manufacturers. They are laughing all the way to the bank with our money. When will we ever wake up people. Can you just imagin if some politician would say they are going to take our guns. Hell, we'd have a total revolutionary war right here in the U.S. We need for representatives who have common sense. I believe in the right to bear arms but it doesn't mean we have the right to slaughter thy neighbor. The Pres. has said over and over again he believes the right to bear arms is our right. We certainly don't need an assult rifle to hunt deer or a hand gun to kill people. We certainly don't need a clip to shot more than 5 rounds no matter what. Unless you are out to have a sho out with the cops and then you can kiss your behind good bye as far as I'm concerned. You deserve it.

WTG JJ, that makes 2 of us !!!!!!, I left Nam in 64 after spending 4 years there. Was ordered NOT to arrive stateside IN uniform, we stopped in Hawaii so that the 58 of us on the plane could go to the base exchange to purchase civies and then flew on to San Francisco.

Can't agree with you about your reference to the present administration, President Obama has done a hell of a lot for the veterans.

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Obama has done a lot for the VA. I am there every week.