From: Jacques Du Pasquier (jacques@dtext.com)
Date: Tue Dec 25 2001 - 17:47:26 MST
Mike Lorrey wrote (25.12.2001/16:10) :
> Switzerland has a 100% household gun ownership rate for all citizen
> households. It's the law, as a matter of fact, and large percent of
> those guns are machine guns. I believe the 27% rate reflects the
> rate of *handgun* ownership.
Some people interested in these matters may wonder about the meaning
of this, so here's a bit of explanation, as I happen to know this
first hand (I was born in Switzerland and did military service there).
Switzerland has an army with the militia system. This means that every
male citizen has an obligation to do military service, which is as
following : first you do a 4 months school at age 19 ; then every 2
years (until you are 42) you do a 2 or 3 weeks session of "practice".
When doing the school part, you are given a personal machine gun. In
fact there is a little ceremony in which a superior officer gives it
to you saying : "Your personal weapon." (In the rougher parts of the
army, they actually throw the gun at the guy, but I was in
intelligence so it was gentler. :-) )
This does become your "personal weapon" as you take it back home when
the school is over, and then bring it back for the "practice" sessions
in the following years.
Additionaly, each year the citizens must go in shooting stands and do
a specific shooting programme, where they need to get a minimal score
(otherwise they must do the programme again). This is so that they
keep well trained. One shoots laying down at 300 meters. The shooting
training is extensive whatever the part of the army you're enrolled
in, and includes grenades. Handguns are used by officers only.
It looks like the system may change now, and turn to a profesionnal army.
Note that though military service is an obligation, quite a few people
are exempted and do not do it (so 100% is a bit of an exaggeration,
and also don't forget the households without any adult male person).
If so, they must pay a tax equal to 2% of their income to make up for
their lack of involvement. Women CAN take military service but have no
obligation (a very tiny percentage do).
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