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Switzerland has a high rate of gun ownership because young men are essentially conscripted into military service. Thus, they are essentially members of a well-regulated militia, as our own Constitution provides for in case of crises. The difference, however, is that our militia is based (for now) on volunteerism; theirs is more a matter of public duty. Because of this, they are trained as members of a militia. Switzerland requires annual training for their militia - again, able bodied young males are generally expected to participate in the militia, which is different from the U.S.
Militia requirements aside, Switzerland has considerably tighter regulation of guns than the United States - that's your bottom line. You cannot carry weapons without a permit, and those are not issued to anyone who wants one; there must be a justification for one, such as working in private security. One must also need a license to purchase a weapon, and such a license allows up to three firearms only.
As already said Switzerland has a military draft so all healthy adult males are essential part of the military at some point in their life. This is completely different from USA which has a voluntary military. That fact plus the fact Switzerland is a tiny country compared to the USA means that situation is completely different to begin with than the USA (meaning adapting the Swiss model in the USA would be quite difficult).
Switzerland has a high rate of gun ownership because young men are essentially conscripted into military service. Thus, they are essentially members of a well-regulated militia, as our own Constitution provides for in case of crises. The difference, however, is that our militia is based (for now) on volunteerism.
That is incorrect.
Title 10 USC Sec. 311. Militia: composition and classes
(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, CITIZENS of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are—
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.
Title 50 USC Sec. 453. Registration (Selective Service)
(a)...it shall be the duty of every male CITIZEN of the United States, and every other male person RESIDING in the United States, who, on the day or days fixed for the first or any subsequent registration, is between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, to present himself for and submit to registration at such time or times and place or places, and in such manner, as shall be determined by proclamation of the President and by rules and regulations prescribed hereunder.
All able-bodied male citizens are the militia. Though only a few may be called into active duty, via "Selective Service", that does not mean that they are not all legally compelled to train, fight and die, on command.
Title 10 USC Sec. 311. Militia: composition and classes
(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, CITIZENS of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are—
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.
Title 50 USC Sec. 453. Registration (Selective Service)
(a)...it shall be the duty of every male CITIZEN of the United States, and every other male person RESIDING in the United States, who, on the day or days fixed for the first or any subsequent registration, is between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six, to present himself for and submit to registration at such time or times and place or places, and in such manner, as shall be determined by proclamation of the President and by rules and regulations prescribed hereunder.
All able-bodied male citizens are the militia. Though only a few may be called into active duty, via "Selective Service", that does not mean that they are not all legally compelled to train, fight and die, on command.
There is a big difference from just registering to be available for active duty (and never actually serving) than having every single healthy male citizen actually doing military service.
Basically what the US can learn from Switzerland is that if the US started today what Switzerland has been doing for 500+ years, then the US could reduce gun violence to Swiss levels by the year 2600 or so.
It's not a gun issue. It's a societal issue. We're not Switzerland and the average US citizen wouldn't put up with much of the other policies that make Swiss society function the way it does. For instance, Switzerland has a ban on all violent video games.
Thus, it's just as silly for the pro-gun faction to point to Switzerland and say, "SEE!" as it is for the anti-gun faction to suggest guns should be banned.
Switzerland has a high rate of gun ownership because young men are essentially conscripted into military service. Thus, they are essentially members of a well-regulated militia, as our own Constitution provides for in case of crises. The difference, however, is that our militia is based (for now) on volunteerism; theirs is more a matter of public duty. Because of this, they are trained as members of a militia. Switzerland requires annual training for their militia - again, able bodied young males are generally expected to participate in the militia, which is different from the U.S.
Militia requirements aside, Switzerland has considerably tighter regulation of guns than the United States - that's your bottom line. You cannot carry weapons without a permit, and those are not issued to anyone who wants one; there must be a justification for one, such as working in private security. One must also need a license to purchase a weapon, and such a license allows up to three firearms only.
It's not a gun issue. It's a societal issue. We're not Switzerland and the average US citizen wouldn't put up with much of the other policies that make Swiss society function the way it does. For instance, Switzerland has a ban on all violent video games.
That is crap.
South Korea is the gaming capital of the world and has no where near the murder rate the US does in fact, in 2006 they only had 14 gun homicides. Just because you love your second amendment rights doesn't mean you can take away everyone's first amendment rights.
Also in Switzerland there is compulsory military service so basically everyone has a lot of experience with gun safety.
There is a big difference from just registering to be available for active duty (and never actually serving) than having every single healthy male citizen actually doing military service.
Which is why citizenship was expanded in the 1820s.
Those few militiamen, under the republican form, didn't want to have to "bother" with all that military stuff.
Consider that the duty started at age 17 but one could not vote until 21.
In short, one had to be training and serving for four years before exercising political liberty.
South Korea is the gaming capital of the world and has no where near the murder rate the US does in fact, in 2006 they only had 14 gun homicides. Just because you love your second amendment rights doesn't mean you can take away everyone's first amendment rights.
Also in Switzerland there is compulsory military service so basically everyone has a lot of experience with gun safety.
I'm not suggesting anything other than Switzerland is Switzerland and the US is the US. This is what they do to make their society function the way they see fit. You can't just take that gun culture and import it here because we wouldn't accept everything that goes with it.
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