From what I read in the media, I had thought that the Swiss tradition of reserve troops taking their military assault rifles home with them was soon coming to an end. Sebastian reports that this is not so.
I am very pleased that our Swiss friends will continue to enjoy their unique, and very practical, tradition.
Greetings from Falls County,
Chris Pon 19 Dec 2009 at 5:55 am link comment
But will they still be allowed to keep ammunition in the home? I thought the main part of the debate was over the ammo, not the rifles.
The weapon is the hard part. From my experience any Soldier, of any nation, worthy of the title will find a way to “scrounge” ammo.
0 
0I tell you right now purge all the gun grabbers from your country. Or make sure that the gun grabbers can’t make any laws prohibiting owning gun in anyway or form. Stop them now while you got the chance. It’s good advice.
http://rpginn.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1111&Itemid=1
0 0What Whatever said.
But isn’t this treading on thin ice? “Firearms not Politics” does appear on the masthead.
0 0Yes, yes, whatever. And when the crime rates of some European countries were lower than they were in the US, it was equally silly to draw the conclusion that we should ban private firearms in the US and become a police state like Brittan or Japan. The Swiss are very mono-cultural, and that’s their great strength because that culture isn’t full of ridiculous exceptions to the rule of law and cultural values for certain types of people, unlike here in the US. So, Whatever has a valid point in that regard.
0 0The fight’s not over yet in Switzeland, in 2011 there will be popular vote on whether private gun should be generally banned. :/
Other major problem: A few years ago, Switzerland has joined “Schengen” (essentially police related cooperation with EU States). The trouble is, Schengen rules are subjct to constant development by EU Member states where we have no word in. We already had to adapt our gun legislation to it once. If Schengen were to completely ban private guns, we would have to adapt or quit the whole thing. This is very worrying.
0 0Bill Lesteron @ 19 Dec 2009 at 12:00 pm
“But isn’t this treading on thin ice? “Firearms not Politics” does appear on the masthead.”
I wasn’t the one who broached the subject regarding Switzerland, guns, and politics; four posts above mine someone ventured into the realm of politics. I could have gone far further into the world of politics than I did but I didn’t as this isn’t the place for that.
0 0Just so you know, they DO convert them to semi-auto before they are taken home. Still great though.
0 0If one has not read it, I cannot recommend too strongly Stephen Halbrooks’ book Target Switzerland: Swiss Armed Neutrality .
0 0Whatever,
I wasn’t referring to your post at all. If you thought so, my apologies for any misunderstanding. In fact I totally agree with your comment, as shown in my first sentence. My second sentence is in reference to the entire thread and how it conflicts with the posted mandate of “Firearms not Politics.”
0 0Greetings from Texas,
I have always admired the ‘common sense’ approach the swiss took to storing the reserves military hardware. It beats the attitude of being afraid of your military personal.
0 0Switzerland is very unlike the US so to draw conclusions as to what we should do here with regard to guns is silly.
0 0Let’s hope the Swiss can long maintain their reasonable mentality on guns against the waves of morons from all over the rest of Europe and their hoplophobia.
0 0We can keep our assault rifle at home. But now there is the possibility to give it to the army for storage if you dont want it at home.
If you want good news from switzerland, take a look at this website http://www.astra-arms.ch/.
Astra Arms, spanish historic gun maker, is now stated in switzerland. And they produce some nice 1911 and M4/Colt commando clones.
Damn, these STG 4 Commando are cute.
0 0Nooky, I suppose that makes sense and will hopefully stop some people trying to ban all military rifles at home.
Thanks for the Astra Arms link.
0 0My buddy always tells a story of a conversation between a German general and a Swiss one when he’s showing his K-31.
The Swiss general says he can field a million men.
The German says, “What if we invade with 3 million men?”
The Swiss guy responds, “All my men will fire three shots and then go home.”
That’s one of those stories I hope it’s true.
0 0Veeshir, LOL, that is awesome.
0 0But will they still be allowed to keep ammunition in the home? I thought the main part of the debate was over the ammo, not the rifles.
0 0Congrats to my shooting compatriots in Switzerland for not having their traditions arbitrarily and forcibly ended by useless paternalistic activists.
0 0Its good to know that at least one European country will have freedom for its citizens. I think Switzerland is the last to be free in europe.
0 0This is the kind of system the US was founded on, but the anti-gun/anti-civil rights forces have always tried to undermine and destroy that system.
“Do you think everyone should be allowed to keep a machine gun in their homes? ARE YOU CRAZY?!”
It was that way in the US until the Militia Act of 1903 which created the National Guard and took an unprecedented step at undermining American Liberty. Kudos to the Swiss for being smarter than we were.
0 0Whatever, the laws of physics aren’t different in the United States from Switzerland. Or in any other country for that matter.
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance (and retards with guns).
But it’s a price worth paying.
Switzerland is going down a slippery slope though. Their joining the UN some years ago was a major step in the wrong direction.
0 1
Just so you know, they DO convert them to semi-auto before they are taken home. Still great though.
If one has not read it, I cannot recommend too strongly Stephen Halbrooks’ book Target Switzerland: Swiss Armed Neutrality .
Whatever,
I wasn’t referring to your post at all. If you thought so, my apologies for any misunderstanding. In fact I totally agree with your comment, as shown in my first sentence. My second sentence is in reference to the entire thread and how it conflicts with the posted mandate of “Firearms not Politics.”
Whatever, the laws of physics aren’t different in the United States from Switzerland. Or in any other country for that matter.
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance (and retards with guns).
But it’s a price worth paying.
Switzerland is going down a slippery slope though. Their joining the UN some years ago was a major step in the wrong direction.
Bill Lesteron @ 19 Dec 2009 at 12:00 pm
“But isn’t this treading on thin ice? “Firearms not Politics” does appear on the masthead.”
I wasn’t the one who broached the subject regarding Switzerland, guns, and politics; four posts above mine someone ventured into the realm of politics. I could have gone far further into the world of politics than I did but I didn’t as this isn’t the place for that.
The fight’s not over yet in Switzeland, in 2011 there will be popular vote on whether private gun should be generally banned. :/
Other major problem: A few years ago, Switzerland has joined “Schengen” (essentially police related cooperation with EU States). The trouble is, Schengen rules are subjct to constant development by EU Member states where we have no word in. We already had to adapt our gun legislation to it once. If Schengen were to completely ban private guns, we would have to adapt or quit the whole thing. This is very worrying.
Greetings from Falls County,
Chris Pon 19 Dec 2009 at 5:55 am link comment
But will they still be allowed to keep ammunition in the home? I thought the main part of the debate was over the ammo, not the rifles.
The weapon is the hard part. From my experience any Soldier, of any nation, worthy of the title will find a way to “scrounge” ammo.
I tell you right now purge all the gun grabbers from your country. Or make sure that the gun grabbers can’t make any laws prohibiting owning gun in anyway or form. Stop them now while you got the chance. It’s good advice.
http://rpginn.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1111&Itemid=1
What Whatever said.
But isn’t this treading on thin ice? “Firearms not Politics” does appear on the masthead.
Yes, yes, whatever. And when the crime rates of some European countries were lower than they were in the US, it was equally silly to draw the conclusion that we should ban private firearms in the US and become a police state like Brittan or Japan. The Swiss are very mono-cultural, and that’s their great strength because that culture isn’t full of ridiculous exceptions to the rule of law and cultural values for certain types of people, unlike here in the US. So, Whatever has a valid point in that regard.
Switzerland is very unlike the US so to draw conclusions as to what we should do here with regard to guns is silly.
Its good to know that at least one European country will have freedom for its citizens. I think Switzerland is the last to be free in europe.
This is the kind of system the US was founded on, but the anti-gun/anti-civil rights forces have always tried to undermine and destroy that system.
“Do you think everyone should be allowed to keep a machine gun in their homes? ARE YOU CRAZY?!”
It was that way in the US until the Militia Act of 1903 which created the National Guard and took an unprecedented step at undermining American Liberty. Kudos to the Swiss for being smarter than we were.
Congrats to my shooting compatriots in Switzerland for not having their traditions arbitrarily and forcibly ended by useless paternalistic activists.
But will they still be allowed to keep ammunition in the home? I thought the main part of the debate was over the ammo, not the rifles.
Let’s hope the Swiss can long maintain their reasonable mentality on guns against the waves of morons from all over the rest of Europe and their hoplophobia.
We can keep our assault rifle at home. But now there is the possibility to give it to the army for storage if you dont want it at home.
If you want good news from switzerland, take a look at this website http://www.astra-arms.ch/.
Astra Arms, spanish historic gun maker, is now stated in switzerland. And they produce some nice 1911 and M4/Colt commando clones.
Damn, these STG 4 Commando are cute.
Nooky, I suppose that makes sense and will hopefully stop some people trying to ban all military rifles at home.
Thanks for the Astra Arms link.
My buddy always tells a story of a conversation between a German general and a Swiss one when he’s showing his K-31.
The Swiss general says he can field a million men.
The German says, “What if we invade with 3 million men?”
The Swiss guy responds, “All my men will fire three shots and then go home.”
That’s one of those stories I hope it’s true.
Veeshir, LOL, that is awesome.
Greetings from Texas,
I have always admired the ‘common sense’ approach the swiss took to storing the reserves military hardware. It beats the attitude of being afraid of your military personal.