Won't be going to live in Switzerland then
Now you know why I am such a hard-boiled bastard.
Saw a doc on your country a few years ago that said anyone could carry arms, up to a sub-machine gun and that anyone could access the name and address from people's car registration........... 
Is that right???
I thought you were all peace loving and only sold tickets to view wars while you sat back and pleaded immunity.
I've been to Zurich & Basel
& I can safely say that it's snowy & expensive
Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 10th May 2015, 10:19 PM BSTSaw a doc on your country a few years ago that said anyone could carry arms, up to a sub-machine gun and that anyone could access the name and address from people's car registration...........
Is that right???
Don't know about the car thing. But anyone can buy a gun without registration, that's right. They thinking about changing this, I read an article about that, just a few days before this incident. Now they have one more good reason.
In fact, even I had a rifle at home myself, everyone who has to do military service has to store his weapon at home (including amunition).
Good ol' "Sturmgewehr 90".
The service ends when you reach the age of 34, then you have to give the rifle back. Now I have to kill my neighbours old school style again, with a knife...or dynamite.
The car reg. thing is correct from what I remember from the prog., so it adds a worrying slant to road rage incidents!!!
When the zombie apocalypse happens, I might head to Gordon's house.
I grew up in Zurich.
Yes, every guy serving in the military has a gun in the basement.
There are fewer guns now since international disarmament treaties reduced the size of the Swiss army. Prior to that there were masses more high power automatic weapons in folks' basements.
The reason that other private gun ownership is not frowned upon (in fact it is encouraged) is that such a large pool of people who are familiar with guns means the army gets a great many guys who are well versed with the weapons and precision sniping.
For example, the biggest annual fair in Zurich is based around the old traditional 'Chnabeschuesse' (Boys' shooting), an old contest involving 300m shooting with military rifles.
So yes, guns everywhere. But the Swiss mentality sees to it that it's not the gunfight at the OK coral on a daily basis, like in America.
But yes, if someone does flip, it can get rather hairy.
He'll have a high power weapon and be trained to hit a 30cm target at 300m distance.
We need Horse to expand on what you have said. 
Quote: Gussie Fink Nottle @ 11th May 2015, 2:00 PM BSTI grew up in Zurich.
Yes, every guy serving in the military has a gun in the basement.
There are fewer guns now since international disarmament treaties reduced the size of the Swiss army. Prior to that there were masses more high power automatic weapons in folks' basements.The reason that other private gun ownership is not frowned upon (in fact it is encouraged) is that such a large pool of people who are familiar with guns means the army gets a great many guys who are well versed with the weapons and precision sniping.
For example, the biggest annual fair in Zurich is based around the old traditional 'Chnabeschuesse' (Boys' shooting), an old contest involving 300m shooting with military rifles.
So yes, guns everywhere. But the Swiss mentality sees to it that it's not the gunfight at the OK coral on a daily basis, like in America.
That's pretty accurate. I have nothing to add.
Quote: Gussie Fink Nottle @ 11th May 2015, 2:00 PM BSTBut yes, if someone does flip, it can get rather hairy.
He'll have a high power weapon and be trained to hit a 30cm target at 300m distance.
That happens from time to time. Most spectacular case happened about ten years ago or so, when a famous female ski star was shot by her husband/boyfriend. He shot her (and her parents I think) with his army gun. This led to the political decision that the amunition had to be stored "safely" at an armoury from then on. You had to return the bullets over a specific transitory period. This led to another small scandal because it was revealed that after the deadline had expired the army had no clue who had yet to return the amunition...they had lost the data or something.
Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 11th May 2015, 2:22 PM BSTWe need Horse to expand on what you have said.
Oh, you love me, really. 
Quote: Gordon Bennett @ 11th May 2015, 2:29 PM BSTThat happens from time to time. Most spectacular case happened about ten years ago or so, when a famous female ski star was shot by her husband/boyfriend. He shot her with his army gun. This led to the political decision that the amunition had to be stored "safely" at an armoury from then on.
I had a friend in the military police.
He occasionally had a farmer to round up who had a harvest to bring in and was not interested in heading off for military service. That could get pretty hairy.
But the worst case he had was an open shoot out at a railway station in Ticino with a drug addict wanting to leave the country to sell his military gun in Italy. So yes, things could get quite fruity. 
Quote: Gussie Fink Nottle @ 11th May 2015, 2:43 PM BSTOh, you love me, really.
Give us a kiss.