[Info-vax] OT Guns

[Paul Sture]

On Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:54:58 -0400, JF Mezei wrote:

> Single Stage to Orbit wrote:
> 
>> Switzerland lets people keep assault rifles in their homes yet the rate
>> of criminality is quite low.
> 
> Actually, it isn't quite that. In Switzerland, after the formal
> compulsory military service, you are still somewhat part of the military
> and are expected to have your military riffle handy in case you are
> called back to duty (or something akin to this).

That's more or less right if you leave out the "somewhat".  The Swiss 
army is a part time army and after the initial compulsory period(s) you 
are expected to do a certain number of days a year.  Some folks choose to 
get more involved than others - a former boss was a Major and took more 
time off than other colleagues.  Regular shooting practice is also 
mandatory.

If you are retired from military service due to medical reasons, you do 
have to hand your weapons back.  This happened to one guy I know; 
perversely he ended up with hearing damage from shooting.

The big difference here IMO is that they have had proper training in the 
care and use of weapons.  My brief stint in my (UK) school's Officer 
Training Corps (OTC) taught me basic lessons I don't think I'll ever 
forget here, such as never pointing a weapon at anyone even in jest.

-- 
Paul Sture