SWITZERLAND
AND GUNS
I was thinking about this
post while doing the washing-up – so it might smell of 'Morning
Fresh Lemon Super Concentrate'
rather than the usual 'Break-Free' gun lube.
Switzerland doesn't just
make watches, Cuckoo-Clocks and chocolates – while completely surrounded by the
rest of Europe it stays separate and independent from the EU
- and maintains that independence with a strong army and airforces.
The Swiss army is a militia. The Swiss Airforce
operates more than 200 modern aircraft with peacetime strength of
1600 personnel and 20,000 reservists. Many of these aircraft operate
from mountain caverns and fly from specially modified highways having
lights and signs that hinge down! (- been there – seen that.). The
Army can field approx 200,000 trained soldiers - as all males (females?) between
18 -34 are reservist militia and required to keep their
rifle or pistol at home. When they reach the top age limit they may
obtain a license to retain their issue weapon permanently as a
civilian, under strong regulation. - How does New Zealand compare?
Sig
SG-550 Stgw 90 Family of Swiss Military Rifles
- Every
Home should have one.
Switzerland is a neutral
nation and has a Direct Democracy Government – that
means that their politicians do what the voters tell them, - not
the other way round like us.
Their parliamenterians
are elected as administrators - not representatives. Swiss
voters make their own policy and law decisions by Referenda. - That's
why they have a strong and prosperous Nation – and that is why they
are outside the EU – because they don't trust Euro politicians to
vote or decide anything on their behalf.
While approx. 30% of
Swiss households have a firearm, (10% have Handguns) – Switzerland
has one of the lowest Intentional homicide rates in the world at 0.70 per 100,000
population. - Is that despite or because
of this high gun ownership?
- The UK , a 'gun-free'
society – recorded a Homicide Rate of 1.2 per 100,000.
- New Zealands figure is 0.9 (and Australia is 1.0)
- USAs figure is 4.7 per 100,000. - Ivory Coast (Africa) seems to be the highest recorded at 56.9 per 100,000.- Both Monaco and Palau recorded 0. - Hong-Kong, Japan and Singapore were also very low figures.
There used to be talk of New Zealand being "The Switzerland of the Pacific." - But, right now, - we don't compare at all well for our democracy, our military efficiency, or our firearms rights & regulation.
Marty K
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