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Thread: Switzerland Gun Control: Voters Back EU Regulations

  1. #1
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    Switzerland Gun Control: Voters Back EU Regulations

    https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48328867

    Almost 64% of voters in Sunday's referendum supported tougher restrictions on semi-automatic and automatic weapons, final results show.

    Switzerland is not an EU member, but risked removal from the open-border Schengen Area if it had voted "no".

    Nearly 48% of Swiss households own a gun - among the highest rates of private ownership in Europe.

    The EU had urged the country to tighten its laws in line with rules adopted by the bloc following the 2015 Paris terror attacks.

    The rules restrict semi-automatic and automatic rifles and make it easier to track weapons in national databases.

    The EU's initial proposal sparked criticism in Switzerland, because it meant a ban on the tradition of ex-soldiers keeping their assault rifles.

    Swiss officials negotiated concessions, but some gun activists argued that the rules still encroached on citizens' rights.

    Opponents of the new gun laws described them as a diktat from Brussels, being forced on non-EU member Switzerland against its will. The Swiss national identity, with its long tradition of gun ownership, was, they argued, being undermined.

    But Sunday's nationwide referendum shows voters think differently: they have overwhelmingly backed the new gun laws, following their government's advice.

    The Swiss seem keen to co-operate in the EU's attempts to prevent terror attacks, and to keep their often tricky relations with Brussels as smooth as possible.

    Why is the EU concerned about Swiss gun laws?

    After the 2015 Paris attacks, the EU issued Schengen members with new restrictions on automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

    The rules called for:

    A ban on weapons capable of rapidly firing multiple roundsAutomatic and semi-automatic weapons to either be banned or heavily restrictedEach owner of such a weapon, and the weapon itself, to be known to police across EuropeAll essential weapon components to be clearly labelled and registered electronically

    The EU hoped the rules would help to protect people across Europe, and prevent a repeat of the 2015 attacks.

    Failure to adopt the changes could have forced Switzerland to leave the Schengen zone and the Dublin joint system for handling asylum requests.

    What did Swiss officials say?

    The Swiss government urged voters to back the changes.

    It said gun enthusiasts would not notice the new rules, while adopting them would allow Switzerland to retain its Schengen membership.

    Officials said membership of the zone had been beneficial to the economy and to fighting crime.
    "People have always been stupid. The Internet just makes it easier for us to know about them." - donlapalma

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    It's kinda sad but inevitable. The waters are getting muddy all around with the Arab and North African insurgency that shows no sign of slowing and Inguess they figure Switzerland needs to enjoy some guilt free diversity.

    I got my SAN rifle so...sucks to be them.
    You get the government you deserve.
    And this will be a lesson....you can't be neutral anymore.

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    We have to protect the EU From Swiss terrorists....

    This is the height of stupidity and not learning the right right answers from the lesson. Hindsight isn’t even 20/20.
    The Second Amendment ACKNOWLEDGES our right to own and bear arms that are in common use that can be used for lawful purposes. The arms can be restricted ONLY if subject to historical analogue from the founding era or is dangerous (unsafe) AND unusual.

    It's that simple.

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    Not surprised by the actions of a 3rd world nation doing stupid things.
    In no way do I make any money from anyone related to the firearms industry.


    "I have never heard anyone say after a firefight that I wish that I had not taken so much ammo.", ME

    "Texas can make it without the United States, but the United States can't make it without Texas !", General Sam Houston

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    A sad day indeed.
    SLG Defense 07/02 FFL/SOT

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    Neutrality and Independence, only seems to work up to the point where it starts to cost your government money and border issues.
    Scew the citizenry.

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    Did the Paris terrorists get weapons from Switzerland?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Todd.K View Post
    Did the Paris terrorists get weapons from Switzerland?
    I sincerely doubt that, I believe the drug trade routes include a few ports in France.
    Edit to add:
    I believe there was a lot of concern that weapons from Libya would make it to Europe via these routes. If I were to guess where those weapons came from that's where I would begin looking.
    Last edited by Averageman; 05-19-19 at 21:52.

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    Their own government urged citizens how to vote. That’s a glaring problem.

    And we’ve yet to hear all the misinformation campaign also associated with the Swiss vote. The article makes it sound like the voters knew what they were doing. So do politicians and journalists in Washington State after their gun laws passed following a major misinformation campaign.

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    Quote Originally Posted by fledge View Post
    Their own government urged citizens how to vote. That’s a glaring problem.
    I kind of agree, BUT, don't our President's do the same thing?
    Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the President... - Theodore Roosevelt, Lincoln and Free Speech, Metropolitan Magazine, Volume 47, Number 6, May 1918.

    Every Communist must grasp the truth. Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Our principle is that the Party commands the gun, and the gun must never be allowed to command the Party Mao Zedong, 6 November, 1938 - speech to the Communist Patry of China's sixth Central Committee

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