I’ve been thinking about something and want to check an assumption I have. I only hear directly from other people in the USA, and interract with the global community through memes. How are the gun regulations/laws different from yours in terms of strictness, and do you wish there was more or less where you live?
Not looking for a debate here, discuss cold drinks vs hot drinks instead. Appreciate either answer. ❤️
Edit: Thanks for the answers all. I’m super proud how productive eveyone kept this talk. I figured most of you had very different experiences than I. I’ll share my most recent experience. I don’t have a firearm, but have considered it after being trained enough. When sharing this with “normal” people around town, I had multiple people offer to sell or gift me a gun where the serial number was scratched off and non-traceable. I ofter heard, “oh man, yeah. You need a gun.” I have literally never needed one. The fact that people offer to give me one when I don’t have a liscence or training shows the mindset of the minority here and how much of a problem a few individuals can make to safety within the current system.
I have lived in Switzerland.
They have mandatory service and many people choose the military service option.
As I understand it, they get basic training and then do annual service. Most people seem to enjoy this as they serve with people from where they grew up and hae a lot of fun (and beer).
Each of these people has a military rifle in their home (and uniform, etc) with live ammo. They are a standing army. A well ordered militia, maybe?
You often see them on the train in fatigues with their weapon on the way to training.
https://www.ch.ch/en/safety-and-justice/military-service-and-civilian-service/military-service/#basic-training
https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryPorn/s/I1GLtIcQ4c
While the Swiss do tragically have “mass shootings”, they are not US style terror attacks, typically: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mass_shootings_in_Switzerland
Swiss here, quick correction. Yes, we have the rifles in our attics and basements, but, generally, no ammo is given out. You get that at the armory when you go to mandatpry training or in case of emergency.
Which is probably why the last mass shooting was some 20 years back.
As I understand it, people can buy ammunition in Switzerland. Here’s a FAQ from a Swiss gun store (in English) saying that ordering ammunition online requires a copy of an ID card and proof of residency.
The store sells .223 Remington ammunition which can be fired from the Sturmgewehr 550 service rifle.
What are the gun ownership rules for people who do not choose the military service option?
No idea, I was there as a cook for under two years. Guys I worked with had to do military service so we discussed it.
Found this: https://www.ch.ch/en/safety-and-justice/owning-a-weapon-in-switzerland/
There is a more in dept post above. In a nutshell, you can have semi-auto with a shall issue permit. No carrying for self defense however.