Gun ownership: Switzerland and Israel

[flyboy56]

In the aftermath of Friday's mass shooting, there's a lot of misinformation about Israel and Switzerland's gun laws being circulated around the web by pro-gun advocates...

And by anti-Constitution types too.

[Joy in Mudville]

Did I miss something? Did someone sell Adam Lanza a gun? Oh that's right. They refused to sell him one.

No, but his mom apparently thought it was a great idea to stockpile a variety of guns and ammo at the house. How did that work out for her?

Interestingly, this is one of the rare cases in recent memory in which the shooter did not actually get his own gun and ammo legally.

[Joy in Mudville]

So those that do have guns probably know how to use them.

The person who shot those children in CT definitely knew how to use a gun.

[ichy]

Or probably because everyone knows a military weapon is in the home?!

They're usually not available for easy use. Gun culture in Switzerland is different. Shooting is a pretty popular pastime but it's restricted to ranges. Anyone who kept a weapon ready for use in their house would be thought of as a nutcase.

My mother's side of the family is Swiss. I believe that my grandmother still has my late grandfather's service rifle, but it's disassembled in the attic. That's the norm for how people keep their military weapons there. Prior to 2007 reservists were issued ammo as well but it was in a sealed container. Opening it up was a huge no-no, and now they aren't issued take-home ammo at all.

[Terry K]

And they keep their guns in depots, not in their homes...

Do some research.....the guns are kept in the homes, not in depots!

[Terry K]

You've just revealed your ignorance of what Switzerland is like. You are correct that reservists have firearms at home however they have little to do with the country's crime rate. People don't carry around concealed weapons to protect themselves and the use of military service weapons against home invaders is also nearly unheard of (probably because violent home invasions are incredibly rare there.)

I've lived in Switzerland, have you? Revealed my ignorance? I never stated anything about concealed weapons. It is true the use of military service weapons against home invaders is also nearly unheard and violent home invasions are incredibly rare. Can you figure out why or must I go into detail as to what should be obvious?

[RavnFreek]

Guns aren't as easily accessible in Switzerland and Israel as many Americans think:

What does Switzerland and Israel have to do with the United States?

[ichy]

I've lived in Switzerland, have you? Revealed my ignorance? I never stated anything about concealed weapons. It is true the use of military service weapons against home invaders is also nearly unheard and violent home invasions are incredibly rare. Can you figure out why or must I go into detail as to what should be obvious?

I have. Half of my family is also Swiss.

Your claim that home invaders are deterred because people have guns is laughable. Nowadays most people don't have any ammo for their military weapons at home and even back when they did it was in a sealed container. Home invasions are rare because Switzerland has a very low violent crime rate.

[AFKAR7]

No, but his mom apparently thought it was a great idea to stockpile a variety of guns and ammo at the house. How did that work out for her?

Interestingly, this is one of the rare cases in recent memory in which the shooter did not actually get his own gun and ammo legally.

Well then the laws worked, right? So my question then is why did she own all of that knowing how her son was.

Also just because one has a "stockpile a variety of guns and ammo" in the home does not mean that will lead to mass murders.

Not sure but my guess also would be that there have been far more mass murders commited by governments against an unarmed population than there have been of a lone mentally unstable person against other people.

I really do get both sides of the argument but I have more fear of having an unarmed populations freedoms being violated by a federal government than I do of law abiding gun owners. Criminals will never change and will always find a way to harm/kill people.