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Firearm violence, gun control and small arms
Swiss Gun Love Under Fire - Experts Call for National Firearm Registry
5 January 2012
Local (Switzerland)
Almost two centuries have passed since Switzerland last fought in a war, yet the country's gun ownership rate remains the highest in Europe. After a series of gun-related killings at the end of last year, The Local's Meritxell Mir looks at what's being done to get fingers off triggers.
Every year, more than 300 people die in Switzerland in gun-related incidents. In many ways, the figure is quite low, when one considers the country has about 2.5 million weapons in... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland,Finland,Germany,United Kingdom,Netherlands,Norway,Europe
Gun Attacks in Europe and Their Effect on Gun Control Laws
14 December 2011
BBC News
As more details emerge of the shooting spree and grenade attack in Belgium in which five people died, the BBC News website takes a look at other recent incidents in Europe - and the effect they have had on each country's laws.
Norway
Seventy-seven people were killed in twin attacks on 22 July 2011 in Norway. Anders Behring Breivik has admitted that he planted a car bomb that exploded close to government offices in the capital Oslo, killing eight people. He then drove... (GunPolicy.org)
About 240,000 Guns Untraceable in Switzerland [Francais]
5 December 2011
Le Dauphiné Libéré (France)
[Translated Summary: 240,000 of the two million guns in circulation in Switzerland are untraceable, says the Ministry of Defence. The National regulations would be a cause: in terms of Defence, Switzerland has a people's army - reservists are allowed to store their weapons at home, to carry them unloaded, and private gun sales are permitted.]
La Suisse évoque bien plus l'image de paix et de concorde civile que celle des armes à feu. Pourtant, le pays est l'un de... (GunPolicy.org)
About 116,000 Guns Registered, 20,000 Untraceable in Geneva [Francais]
30 November 2011
Tribune de Genève
[Translated Summary: Following a recent shooting in Switzerland, Bernard Bersier, Chief of the Firearms Service, analyses the situation in Geneva. Last year, 115,684 firearms were registered in Geneva, one firearm per four inhabitants. Behind this official number hides a grey market that constitutes the real danger, explains Mr Bersier.]
Suite à la mort par balle d'un homme aux Cygnes, Bernard Bersier, chef du Service des armes, analyse la situation genevoise.
A... (GunPolicy.org)
Household Shootings Prompt Swiss to Rethink Army Guns Kept at Home
23 November 2011
Local (Stockholm)
Several killings in the last few weeks have led Switzerland's Security Policy Committee to take steps to remove weapons from the hands of people with a history of violence.
The parliamentary committee said confiscating firearms was a matter of urgency for individuals known to have made threats or perpetrated acts of violence.
To help avoid further tragedies, a unanimous committee called on the National Assembly to pass a motion requiring the Federal Council to combat... (GunPolicy.org)
Shooting in Geneva: Airguns Turned into Lethal Weapons [Francais]
14 November 2011
20 Minutes (Geneva)
[Translated summary: The gun homicide at Geneva's mall highlights new practices: turning airguns into lethal weapons that are available on the 'Grey Market'.]
Le meurtre du centre commercial des Cygnes, au coeur de Genève, met en exergue de nouvelles pratiques chez certains marginaux du canton.
«Pour 1000 francs, on trouve facilement un 9 mm. Moi j'ai mon 22 (n.d.l.r.: long rifle). Et maintenant, les Albanais ont une nouvelle spécialité, ils transforment des... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army-issue Guns Involved in 300 Civilian Deaths a Year
14 November 2011
SwissInfo
Another deadly incident involving an army-issue gun has been reported only ten days after a man shot his girlfriend with his army assault rifle.
Police in canton Neuchâtel say the latest case occurred in someone's home at the weekend when three people were handling guns.
An investigation is underway to establish the course of events and the origin of the ammunition.
Last February, Swiss voters rejected a proposal by an alliance of NGOs and centre-left political... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Reopen Debate on Keeping Army Assault Weapons, Pistols in Homes
13 November 2011
SwissInfo
The army says it wants to work more closely with the cantonal authorities to prevent shootings with army-issue guns.
A spokesman told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper that army chief, André Blattmann, wants the cantonal justice departments to inform the army of any criminal investigations involving men still on active service.
Due to the set-up of Switzerland's militia army, men on active service are allowed to keep their army-issue firearms at home.
Currently, Swiss... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Soldier Kills Girlfriend with Army Rifle, Restarts Guns-at-home Debate
9 November 2011
Local (Switzerland)
Politicians, criminologists and police have called for army-issue weapons to be kept out of the hands of lawbreakers after a young man with a criminal record shot and killed his girlfriend last Friday.
The alleged murderer, a 23-year-old-man had several previous convictions for threatening behaviour and property damage before he shot his girlfriend in the head with his army assault rifle.
A heated debate has raged for years in Switzerland about firearm control and... (GunPolicy.org)
European Union,China,Germany,South Korea,Switzerland,Serbia,France,United Kingdom,Syria,Yemen,Bulgaria,Belgium,Libya,Italy,Bahrain,Egypt,United States,Russia,West Asia,North Africa,Finland,Austria,Sudan,North Korea,Spain
Tracing the Middle East Weapons Flow
19 October 2011
al Jazeera
Earlier this year, as mass popular uprisings spread through the Middle East and audiences across the world sat transfixed by images of unarmed citizens confronting iron-fisted security forces in the streets of Arab capitals, powerful governments from Russia to the United States were forced to begin accounting for the weapons they had for decades sold to the very rulers they now found themselves abandoning.
In Egypt and Bahrain, protesters held up tear gas canisters... (GunPolicy.org)
Boy Shoots, Kills Friend with Father's Police Pistol in Switzerland [Francais]
19 September 2011
Le Matin (Lausanne)
[Translated summary: A teenager accidentally shot dead his friend with his father's handgun. The father, who is an experienced police officer, did not store his handgun in a secured cabinet. According to Thurgovia law, police officers do not have to comply with the Federal Law on Firearms in terms of safe storage of guns kept at home.]
Trois écoliers thurgoviens jouaient avec le pistolet de service du père de l'un d'eux, un policier. Celui-ci a été mis sous... (GunPolicy.org)
More Than a Quarter of Swiss Households Have Access to a Gun - Study
12 September 2011
Local (Switzerland)
More than a quarter of Swiss households have access to a gun, according to a study carried out by the Institute of Criminology at the University of Zurich.
In a victim study carried out on behalf of the conference of cantonal police chiefs, Martin Killias at the Institute of Criminology found that around 27 percent of Swiss homes have access to a firearm.
Furthermore, the number of gun licences has increased sharply in many cantons since 2008, the SonntagsZeitung... (GunPolicy.org)
New Firearms Database Available to Cantonal Police in Switzerland
24 May 2011
24 Heures (Switzerland) / AP
BERNE - Suite à la campagne sur l'initiative «pour la protection face à la violence des armes», une plate-forme électronique d'information sur les armes accessible aux polices cantonales vient d'être créée.
Les polices cantonales peuvent désormais accéder à une plate-forme électronique d'information sur les armes de l'Office fédéral de la police (fedpol). Une promesse faite pendant la campagne sur l'initiative «pour la protection face à la violence des... (GunPolicy.org)
The Truth About Switzerland - Gun Laws Americans Would Call 'Tyrannical'
28 March 2011
Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (USA), Web page
In Switzerland — a nation in which a "well regulated Militia" still plays a leading role in national defense — guns are a hot issue. A February referendum on new gun policy proposals quickly turned into a national debate on Switzerland's gun culture and citizen/soldier tradition. The resulting dialogue in this landlocked nation of mountains and lakes has been fascinating and shed light on some long-perpetuated myths about Switzerland's gun laws.
Responding to... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Vote to Keep 'a Gun in Every Closet,' Reject Calls for Gun Control
15 February 2011
Time (USA)
Perhaps the great paradox of peaceful and safety-conscious Switzerland, which hasn't been under military threat since World War II, is its cherished tradition of a gun in every closet. And, as the defeat of a Feb. 13 initiative seeking to tighten the nation's liberal gun law proves, the Swiss are not willing to bid a farewell to arms anytime soon.
Early polls in the midst of what was a heated and contentious campaign predicted victory for the anti-gun lobby, but on... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Voters Firmly Reject Push to Remove Assault Weapons from Homes
14 February 2011
Wall Street Journal
ZURICH — Following an emotional debate over gun control, Swiss voters firmly rejected a referendum that would have forced soldiers to end the longstanding practice of keeping army-issue firearms at home and tightened restrictions over civilian gun ownership.
According to exit polls, 57% of voters rejected the initiative. The referendum sparked a heated debate over the right to bear arms in a country that has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the... (GunPolicy.org)
US Media, Lobby Groups Follow Swiss Vote to Keep Army Guns in Homes
14 February 2011
SwissInfo
The controversial initiative on restricting access to firearms – which was rejected by Swiss voters on Sunday – has been followed closely in the United States.
The US, which also has a gun-bearing tradition, is currently dealing with the fallout from a fatal gun attack in Arizona. However, gun control has not been made a political priority.
Just over 56 per cent of Swiss voters threw out a proposal to ban army-issue firearms from the home and set up a central arms... (GunPolicy.org)
Peaceful, Neutral Switzerland Cherishes Its Armed Tradition, Votes Pro-gun
13 February 2011
Canadian Press
GENEVA — Neutral Switzerland is among the best-armed nations in the world, with more guns per capita than almost any other country except the U.S., Finland and Yemen.
At least 2.3 million weapons lie stashed in basements, cupboards and lofts in this country of less than 8 million people, according to the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey.
On Sunday, Swiss voters made sure it stays that way, rejecting a proposal to tighten the peaceful Alpine nation's relaxed firearms... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland Rejects Tighter Gun Control, Keeps Army Guns in 1 in 4 Homes
13 February 2011
BBC News
Swiss voters have rejected proposed tighter controls on gun ownership, final results show.
Twenty of the 26 cantons and 56.3% of voters rejected the plan, meaning the current system allowing army-issue weapons to be kept at home will remain.
Supporters of the tighter curbs wanted to have weapons kept in armouries and were demanding stricter checks on gun owners.
Opponents said the move would have undermined trust in the army.
For the proposal to succeed, it required... (GunPolicy.org)
Emotional, Polarising Swiss Gun Safety Referendum Faces Voters' Verdict
12 February 2011
SwissInfo
Following an emotional campaign the Swiss on Sunday have the final say on a proposal to restrict access to firearms, including a ban on keeping army-issue guns at home.
The nationwide ballot pits urban citizens against the more traditional voters in rural Switzerland; the centre-left challenges the centre-right and rightwing majority, while women could tip the balance.
The initiative, launched four years ago, seeks to introduce stricter rules for gun possession,... (GunPolicy.org)
Cherished Tradition of Swiss Army Guns at Home Now Faces Referendum
12 February 2011
Wall Street Journal
ZURICH — Switzerland is in the midst of an emotional debate over a proposal to limit weapons in a country that cherishes its right to bear arms, echoing the U.S. reflection on the issue in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Arizona last month.
Gun ownership has long enjoyed strong support in Switzerland, both for national defense and cultural reasons, and the country has one of the highest arms rates in the world.
That is because of a longstanding tradition for the... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Gun Culture, Assault Weapons at Home Under Fire in Referendum
9 February 2011
Associated Press
BUEREN AN DER AARE, Switzerland — The neutral Swiss do love their guns and their frequent, citizen-inspired referendums. Those two deeply cherished rights collide this weekend as Swiss voters decide whether to impose far-reaching restrictions on firearms.
The nationwide vote Sunday pits critics of Switzerland's high rate of firearms suicides against those who fear tighter rules may hurt the country's beloved village shooting clubs or cripple its citizen... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Vote Pre-poll Leans Toward Banning Military Guns in the Home
19 January 2011
Miller-McCune (California)
While the assassination attempt on Gabrielle Giffords in Arizona revived a predictable and unchanging round of gun control debate in the U.S., a referendum in Switzerland — Europe's best-armed nation — is showing a shift of opinion away from private gun ownership.
Every third household in Switzerland has a firearm, normally government-issued, because every male citizen under about 50 is also a reserve soldier. Instead of a standing professional army, the government... (GunPolicy.org)
United Kingdom,Switzerland,Russia,Norway,Mexico,Japan,Italy,Germany,Austria,Czech Republic,India,China,Canada,Brazil,Australia,United States
How Gun Control Laws Vary in 16 Countries Around the World
10 January 2011
Guardian (UK)
Australia
Ownership is strictly prohibited unless there are "genuine reasons" such as licensed sport, animal control or employment requirements.
Brazil
If you are over 25 and have registered a weapon, you are free to keep it indoors. The country has the second-highest gun-related death rate after the US.
Canada
Significantly stricter than the neighbouring US. To acquire a licence, applicants must undertake a safety course, pass a criminal records check and be... (GunPolicy.org)
To Save Lives, Swiss Doctors Back Ban on Army Machine Guns at Home
9 January 2011
SwissInfo
Swiss doctors consider it their professional duty to back an initiative aimed at restricting access to firearms to be voted on in a nationwide ballot on February 13.
The Swiss Medical Association, which represents the overwhelming majority of practising doctors, considers the initiative an important part of suicide prevention.
"It is about public health and suicide prevention. This is our core business, to save lives," said the association's president, Jacques de... (GunPolicy.org)
To Reduce Domestic Killings, Swiss Vote Would Ban Army Guns in Homes
22 December 2010
SwissInfo
Supporters and opponents of a proposal aimed at limiting access to guns have launched their campaigns ahead of a nationwide vote in February.
Switzerland has the highest number of arms per capita, with estimates varying between 1.2 million and 2.3 million. But exact data are not available as there is no central arms register.
Shaken by a number of high-profile killings over the past decade a broad alliance of human rights groups, churches, women's organisations, trade... (GunPolicy.org)
Saudi Arabia,Pakistan,Japan,United Kingdom,Switzerland,Finland,Yemen,United States
Civilians Own 74% Of All Guns Globally, Firearm Laws Differ Greatly
15 December 2010
Times of India
The 'Gun Debate' has engaged many parts of the world for decades and both public opinion and lawmakers in different countries differ considerably on this question. Interestingly, 74% of all firearms globally are owned by civilians.
The right to own a firearm is a major issue in US politics and many Americans consider the possession of firearms a time-honoured custom. Strong gun-supporting lobbies like the National Rifle Association spend millions of dollars to fight... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army Guns Kill 300 a Year, Govt Rejects Ban on Small Arms at Home
6 December 2010
SwissInfo
The Swiss government has come out against an initiative to ban Swiss men from keeping their military-issue guns at home.
Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga said on Monday that the current gun law was sufficient to protect against misuse and that the initiative would be difficult to put into practice.
The people's initiative, launched by the centre-left Social Democratic Party – Sommaruga's own party – as well as pacifist and doctors' organisations, will be put... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Parliament Rejects Tougher Gun Laws, Ban on Army Guns at Home
18 July 2010
SwissInfo
The House of Representatives, like the cabinet, is urging Swiss voters to reject a people's initiative that aims to ban military weapons from households.
The initiative will now go to the Senate, ahead of a national vote in February 2011. New figures show that Switzerland's militia soldiers seem to prefer to keep their military guns at home rather than deposit them free at local army bases.
Launched in February 2009 by the centre-left Social Democratic Party and a... (GunPolicy.org)
Machine Gun-toting Gang of Robbers Raids Swiss Casino, Escapes
29 March 2010
Associated Press
BASEL, Switzerland - An armed gang of masked men raided a casino packed with about 600 guests early Sunday and made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to Swiss prosecutors.
In a statement, prosecutors in Basel described a scene like an action-film heist: About 10 men dressed in black arrived in two cars at the Grand Casino near Basel shortly after 4 a.m.
One smashed the front door with a sledgehammer, and the others ran inside with machine guns and... (GunPolicy.org)
Army-issue Guns at the Heart of Family Violence in Switzerland [Francais]
9 February 2010
24 Heures (Switzerland)
[Translated summary: 76% of the homicide-suicide cases in Switzerland involve firearms, very often a gun kept at home by Swiss army reservists, according to a new university study.]
Une étude criminologique le démontre: en Suisse, les auteurs de drames familiaux recourent trois fois sur quatre aux armes à feu et, très souvent, il s'agit d'une arme de service. Voilà qui apporte de l'eau au moulin des adversaires de l'arme détenue à la maison.
En avril 2006,... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army Service Firearms Often Used in Murder/Suicide [Francais]
8 February 2010
Journal (Geneva)
Translated summary: Swiss army military guns are often used in family violence, particularly in murder-suicide cases where a male shooter kills a female partner.]
Les auteurs de drames familiaux ont le plus fréquemment recours à une arme à feu. Quant aux armes de service, elles tuent dans un quart des cas, selon une étude de l'hôpital universitaire de Lausanne (CHUV) publiée en janvier.
L'étude publiée en janvier et dont le résumé est paru dans la revue... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Reconsider Keeping Army Guns at Home, Cite Frequent Shootings
27 November 2009
SwissInfo
Swiss soldiers who do not want to keep their military-issue guns at home are to be allowed to store them for free at an army logistics centre.
The new rule, which comes into force on January 1, was adopted by the Swiss government on Friday as part of its amendments to the regulations on firearms.
The cabinet also called for earlier detection of soldiers who represent a potential threat.
Under another amendment, men who wish to keep their gun after completing their... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Accused of Careless Gun Exports, Cabinet Aims for Clearer Law
24 November 2009
SwissInfo
Questions are being raised in Switzerland over exports of weapons and war material — and not only by the pacifists behind the nationwide vote on November 29.
The government in its official information brochure for voters describes its policy of trading war material as restrictive, transparent, tough and not open to frequent abuses.
Throughout its campaign the pacifist group for a Switzerland without an Army has tried to undermine the clean Swiss image. It has... (GunPolicy.org)
Central Armouries Store Swiss Army Guns in 'Hot' Crime Areas [Francais]
21 September 2009
20 Minutes (Switzerland)
[Translated summary: Almost one-third of military weapons stored centrally in the Geneva canton come from neighbourhoods with high break-in rates. The Mayor of Vernier calls for all firearms to be centrally stored.]
Près d'un tiers des armes de service déposées à l'arsenal viennent des quartiers sensibles du Lignon, des Libellules et des Avanchets.
«Entre 180 et 200 armes sont actuellement en dépôt volontaire à l'arsenal», a détaillé lundi Guy Reyfer,... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army Soldiers to Carry Unloaded Guns, Avoid Shootings [Francais]
31 August 2009
Département fédéral de la défense, de la protection de la population et des sports, Media release
[Translated summary: To avoid unintentional shootings, Swiss army soldiers on guard duty will carry unloaded firearms.] Dès le 1er septembre 2009, le service de garde s'effectuera en cas normal et sur base réglementaire avec une arme non chargée au sein de l'Armée suisse. Le service de garde avec une arme chargée constituera une exception. L'armée applique ainsi définitivement les compléments au service de garde décidés au mois d'octobre 2008.
Les directives... (GunPolicy.org)
Read More: Département fédéral de la défense, de la protection de la population et des sports
Swiss Soldiers on Guard Duty Must Now Carry Unloaded Weapons
31 August 2009
Geneva Lunch (Switzerland)
GENEVA — Swiss guards will carry unloaded firearms starting 1 September thanks to a new measure covering Swiss army soldiers on guard duty.
This does not mean the soldiers will carry arms without bullets: the new ruling allows the magazine to be fully loaded but it may not be put in action mode. The commanding officer may, given the circumstances, order exceptions to this rule.
The measure was approved in October last year after several incidents where guns were... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe,Germany,Portugal,Belgium,Finland,Switzerland
European Countries Tighten Gun Laws But More Needed, Say Experts
12 March 2009
Associated Press
School shootings and other gun crimes have spurred European governments to tighten their gun laws but the measures have been uneven across the continent, experts said Thursday.
Dramatic incidents, such as Wednesday's rampage by a 17-year-old gunman who killed 15 people at his former school in Germany, often jolt authorities into action.
Finland announced plans Wednesday to impose stricter restrictions on firearms, including raising the minimum age for handgun... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Europe,Finland,Belgium,Switzerland,Portugal,Denmark
Europe Hurries to Tighten Gun Laws After Mass Shooting Attacks
11 March 2009
Associated Press
HELSINKI — Several European countries have restricted gun laws in the wake of school massacres, gang violence and other gun-related crimes:
- Finland announced plans Wednesday to impose stricter restrictions on firearms, including raising the minimum age for handgun ownership from 15 to 20. The proposal was prompted by two school massacres within a year in which lone gunmen opened fire on classmates and teachers.
- Germany, where a gunman killed at least 11 people... (GunPolicy.org)
Geneva Family of Four Found Shot Dead in Swiss 'Domestic Incident'
7 March 2009
Associated Press
A family of four were found shot dead in their home near Geneva on Friday in what Swiss police suspect was a domestic incident.
Officers discovered a 52-year-old man and his 47-year-old wife along with their sons, ages 16 and 19, in an apartment in the suburb of Carouge. Neighbors had alerted the authorities after becoming concerned about the family's whereabouts.
A handgun was found inside the apartment, police said. Police declined to provide further information on... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Vote to Remove Guns from Homes, Ban Some Firearms, Register All
24 February 2009
Associated Press
GENEVA — Switzerland's part-time soldiers traditionally store their guns in the attic, in a cupboard or under the bed. They see it as their honor and duty to keep their weapons close at hand.
But critics say the proliferation of firearms has led to both suicides and homicides throughout the neutral nation, and they are seeking tighter firearms controls.
Campaigners said Monday they have collected around 120,000 signatures to force a nationwide referendum on whether... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Force Referendum to Prevent 1.5 Million Guns Being Stored in Homes
24 February 2009
CNN
Switzerland's part-time soldiers could lose the right to store their weapons at home.
A coalition led by the country's Social Democrat party and the Greens has collected nearly 120,000 signatures to force a national referendum on whether the weapons should be stored at military bases.
The coalition of 74 groups says the weapons are involved in too many suicides and murders in the country and tighter controls are needed.
Switzerland's armed forces consist of just a... (GunPolicy.org)
Suicide, Domestic Killings Bring Vote to Ban Million Guns from Swiss Homes
23 February 2009
SwissInfo
Anti-gun supporters have collected enough signatures to force a nationwide vote on banning more than one million military weapons from Swiss households.
Guns are stored in homes under Switzerland's militia system, but opponents say the practice is too dangerous, pointing to deaths and domestic violence cases involving army weapons.
The people's initiative, launched by the centre-left Social Democratic Party and a number of pacifist organisations, was handed in to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Referendum Gathers Pace to Ban Army Guns Being Stored in Swiss Homes
23 February 2009
SwissInfo
Anti-gun supporters have collected enough signatures to force a nationwide vote on banning more than one million military weapons from Swiss households.
Guns are stored in homes under Switzerland's militia system, but opponents say the practice is too dangerous, pointing to deaths and domestic violence cases involving army weapons.
The people's initiative, launched by the centre-left Social Democratic Party and a number of pacifist organisations, was handed in to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Referendum to Remove Military Guns from Private Homes [Francais]
23 February 2009
24 Heures/ATS (Lausanne)
[Translated summary: A 107,000-name petition calling for a referendum on possession and secure storage of military fireams has been presented to the Swiss government. The initiative also calls for a national firearm registry and the prohibition of automatic firearms and pump action shotguns. Of the 2.3 million firearms in Switzerland, 1.7 million are military firearms].
LAUSANNE — Le peuple suisse se rendra sans doute aux urnes pour dire s'il souhaite bannir l'arme... (GunPolicy.org)
Finland,Yemen,Switzerland,United States,United Nations
Global Gun Ownership: Finland, Yemen, Switzerland, USA - Keith Krause
23 October 2008
Chicago Public Radio, Audio
Last month, a 22-year-old student walked into his trade school in Finland and opened fire. He killed 10 people before shooting himself. The school massacre was the second Finland experienced in less than a year.
Keith Krause is the Program Director of the Small Arms Survey, an independent research project located at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Switzerland.
The Small Arms Survey puts out an annual study on the production,... (GunPolicy.org)
United Nations,Finland,New Zealand,United States,Australia,Canada,France,Belgium,Sweden,Switzerland,South Africa,Austria,Israel,Brazil,Germany
Comparison of Key Handgun Restrictions in 14 Industrialised Countries
25 September 2008
Economist
Finland's government is introducing tougher regulations on handguns following a mass shooting at a school on Tuesday September 23rd, the second in under a year.
The country had been among the most lenient in the world, allowing 15-year-olds to keep a handgun under parental supervision, requiring no medical or psychological tests and no minimum wait for those buying weapons.
The gun-death rate (whether murder, accident or suicide) in rich countries is highest where... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Reject Old Habit of Keeping Army Guns, Ammo at Home [Francais]
29 August 2008
La Liberté (Fribourg), Poll
[Translated summary: A Swiss Federal Institute of Technology poll finds that support for keeping military weapons at home has dropped to 34%, with opinion led by women and young people].
Le sentiment de sécurité des Suisses culmine de nouveau à un niveau record avec un taux de 90%, selon un sondage de l'Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Zurich (EPFZ). Près de 80% des sondés affichent en outre leur confiance dans l'avenir du pays.
Par contre, la tradition pour... (GunPolicy.org)
Poll Shows 76% of Swiss Want to Rid Homes of Army Guns [Francais]
29 August 2008
SwissInfo, Poll
[Translated Summary: Poll shows only 34% of Swiss support storing military guns at home, down from 57% in 1989. Link to poll results in German, English, French and Italian].
Avec un taux de 90%, le sentiment de sécurité des Suisses culmine de nouveau à un niveau record, selon le sondage 2008 mené par l'Ecole polytechnique fédérale de Zurich (EPFZ). Et près de 80% des sondés ont en outre confiance dans l'avenir du pays.
La hausse est particulièrement marquée... (GunPolicy.org)
Only 1 in 3 Swiss Want to Continue Storing Army Guns, Ammo at Home
29 August 2008
SwissInfo, Poll
The long-standing tradition of keeping army weapons at home is increasingly losing support among the population, security experts say.
An overwhelming majority of Swiss feel secure and trust the army, police and justice authorities, according to the 2008 Security Study of the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich.
Thirty-four per cent of respondents said they were in favour of maintaining the tradition of keeping the standard issue military weapon at... (GunPolicy.org)
Easy Access to Guns Gives Highest Gun Suicide Rate to Swiss Youth
3 August 2008
SwissInfo
The percentage of young people who use a gun to kill themselves is higher in Switzerland than any other European country, according to an international survey.
This is directly connected to liberal Swiss gun laws and the easy availability of weapons, said researchers from the European Alliance Against Depression, whose study is published in the current edition of the Journal of Affective Disorders.
Almost half (43.6 per cent) of suicides in Switzerland committed by... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland Named As One of the Most Transparent Exporters of Guns
16 July 2008
SwissInfo
The diversion of small arms and light weapons is a major source of firearms for criminals and insurgents around the world, says an international report.
However, Switzerland was named one of the most transparent small arms exporters in the latest Small Arms Survey, published annually by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies (GIIS).
"The score for Switzerland on transparency has improved dramatically, partly because there's been a strong effort... (GunPolicy.org)
Germany,Switzerland,Italy,United Kingdom,Australia,South Africa
Gun Laws in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, UK, Australia, South Africa
26 June 2008
Associated Press
GERMANY:
Requires license to obtain and use firearms and stipulates a check on the "reliability and suitability" of holders at least once every three years. Under-25s must undergo psychological screening. Buyers must justify why they need a gun.
Would-be buyers of recreational firearms must produce proof of regular membership in shooting club for at least one year. Legal age for owning recreational firearms is 21. That was raised from 18 in 2002, the year an alienated... (GunPolicy.org)
New Recruit Gets Swiss Army Assault Rifle, Shoots 16yr-old Girl at Bus Stop
27 November 2007
SwissInfo
A soldier has confessed to the killing of a 16-year-old girl last Friday in Zurich in what appeared to be a random shooting.
The incident comes amid a heated debate over Switzerland's gun laws. Army issue weapons are involved in the death of more than 300 people a year in the country.
The Zurich prosecutor's office said on Tuesday that the 21-year-old soldier, who was arrested two days after the shooting, admitted to committing the crime.
The authorities have not... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland,Bosnia & Herzegovina,Iraq
Swiss Gun Dealer Investigated for Trafficking Weapons from Bosnia to Iraq
18 November 2007
SonntagsZeitung (Switzerland)
ZURICH — Swiss business man Marius Joray may have illegally moved thousands of small arms and huge quantities of ammunition from Bosnia to Iraq. The Swiss State Prosecutor has become involved. The Prosecutors spokesman Peter Lehmann says . "We have requested the Federal Police to enquiries."
The research of the SonntagsZeitung shows that goods that were acquired through the Swiss business man were transferred with the help of Serbian arms smuggler Tomislav... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Islamic Centre Shooter Used Army Assault Weapon Kept in His Home
13 November 2007
SwissInfo
A lone gunman has used his military assault rifle to fire on a dozen fellow worshippers at an Islamic centre in western Switzerland, seriously injuring one.
The latest in a series of incidents involving army weapons — which all enlisted Swiss men have to keep at home with ammunition — will add fuel to the heated political debate over reforming the country's gun laws.
A 23-year-old local man, described by police as a practising Swiss Muslim, was detained on Monday... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army Gun Victims Push for Ban on Military Firearms at Home
28 September 2007
Bloomberg (USA)
Tanja Vollenweider and her family had just built a house near Zurich when her husband lost his job at an insurance company. Two weeks later, the militia officer took his army-issued pistol into the forest and killed himself.
"It was Friday, we had had guests at home," Vollenweider, 35, said at her home in Daellikon. "My daughter saw him leaving with the weapon. She woke me up. We heard the shots."
Four and a half years later, Vollenweider and other gun control... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland Criticised for Poor Data On Gun Ownership, Weapon Exports
28 August 2007
SwissInfo
Civilians in Switzerland own an estimated 3.4 million guns — putting the country in fourth place for weapons possession per capita, according to a report.
The latest Small Arms Survey, published by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies (GIIS), criticises Switzerland's lack of transparency over reliable statistics on firearms.
Switzerland ranks behind the United States, Yemen and Finland, but ahead of Iraq in the per capita count, and in... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Mull Gun Control to Curb High Rates of Gun Suicide, Family Shootings
29 July 2007
Deutsche Welle
Switzerland's the only country that requires its soldiers to keep guns at home. But concerns over high suicide rates and killings within families have caused some to ask whether having them there is simply too dangerous.
All Swiss men must do military service — they all learn to shoot — and when they go home, they take their assault rifles and 50 rounds of ammunition with them.
"For me it's just routine," said Philippe Schaub, heading home after his latest stint... (GunPolicy.org)
Historic Decision Bans Ammunition for Swiss Army Guns Kept in Homes
21 June 2007
Tribune de Geneve (Geneva)
Federal lawmakers approve historic new regulations requiring army ammunition to be kept in arsenals, while stopping short of a ban on firearms in Swiss residences.
The Swiss government is tightening regulations for weapons while the senate has approved a general ban on the storing of army ammunition at home. The measures fall short of a ban on keeping military guns in private residences, although left-wing campaigners are planning to launch an initiative to achieve... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army Weapons in Homes Kill 300 a Year, Senate 'No' to Law Change
20 June 2007
SwissInfo
The Swiss Senate has approved a revised law on weapons which forbids the carrying of dangerous objects and the anonymous purchase of arms over the internet.
The chamber, which represents Switzerland's cantons, followed the example of the House of Representatives. A ban on keeping military weapons at home was rejected.
Anonymous sales of guns over the internet or by advertisement are to be banned, but there are exceptions for hunters and members of Switzerland's... (GunPolicy.org)
Pressure Grows to Abandon Swiss Tradition of Keeping Army Guns at Home
20 June 2007
Neue Zürcher Zeitung / SwissInfo, Poll
Switzerland is preparing for a lively debate this summer over its long-standing tradition of keeping army guns and ammunition at home.
Opposition to its guns-at-home culture seems to have gained momentum and critics are launching a people's initiative on the issue. On Wednesday parliament will discuss a compromise proposal — a ban on storing army ammunition at home.
Attitudes towards firearms may be changing in Switzerland, which is well known for its militia army,... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Gun Enthusiasts Fight Trend to Remove Weapons from Homes
11 June 2007
SwissInfo
Guns have long been a fixture of life in Switzerland, with its militia army, strong traditions and liberal laws. Up to 20 million are kept in cellars and attics.
As the national gun debate hots up, swissinfo tests the temperature of opinion among gun fans with a visit to a gun dealer and stop-off at the "world's biggest shooting festival".
It's 10am and the tiny premises of Poyet gun shop in the middle of the capital Bern are a hive of activity.
A... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Mull Tighter Gun Laws, Ammo Ban Has 'Good Chance of Success'
2 May 2007
Der Spiegel (Germany)
With its militia-based approach to national security, Switzerland has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world — not to mention one of the highest rates of gun-related deaths. Now gun-control advocates are calling for restrictions on keeping guns and ammunition at home.
When most people think of Switzerland, they imagine a sleepy — even boring — country of beautiful Alpine vistas and tranquil cows, where the most exciting thing that could happen... (GunPolicy.org)
Switzerland Considers New Gun Laws, May Prohibit Ammunition in Homes
2 May 2007
United Press International
BERNE, Switzerland — Recent acts of gun violence have led Swiss politicians to consider tightening the country's traditionally lax gun safety laws.
All men between ages 20 and 30 in Switzerland are members of the state militia, and as such they are issued weapons and ammunition. However, a Swiss Senate committee last month voted to ban to keeping of ammunition in private residences, and the issue now goes to the country's Parliament, The Independent reported... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Lawmaker: 'Keeping Guns at Home is Outdated and Dangerous'
1 May 2007
Time (USA)
Each September the hills around Zurich are alive — with the sound of gunfire. Nobody is alarmed, however, because they know it emanates from a bunch of teenagers doing what comes naturally to nearly every Swiss: sharp-shooting. And there's nothing random about it: The 12- to 16-year-olds are participating in Knabenschiessen, the world's largest youth rifle competition, which blends the jarring report of rifle fire with the melodious ringing of cow bells.
The Swiss... (GunPolicy.org)
Easy Availability of Guns Contributes to Switzerland's High Suicide Rate
1 May 2007
Reuters
ZURICH — Switzerland is one of the world's richest and most tranquil countries, but it also has more suicides than most. This may show that money doesn't buy happiness, but some Swiss also blame the guns.
Guns are omnipresent in this Alpine country — some estimates run to at least one for every three of its 7.5 million inhabitants. Many are stored in people's attics, a legacy of its famed policy of arming its men to defend its neutrality.
Now the country is... (GunPolicy.org)
Rise in Gun Crime Forces Swiss to Reconsider Right to Bear Arms
1 May 2007
Independent (UK)
Switzerland, an island of gun culture at the heart of Europe, is agonising over whether to introduce controls on possessing guns and ammunition as alarm spreads about the number of gun deaths in the country.
The latest incident occurred on the evening of Friday 13 April in the restaurant of a hotel in the northern city of Baden — three days before Seung-Hui Cho killed 32 people at Virginia Tech in the United States.
In the Baden eruption one man was killed and four... (GunPolicy.org)
Armoury in Gun-Shy Europe: Switzerland Weighs Curbs on Gun Culture
29 April 2007
Washington Post Foreign Service
ZUG, Switzerland — Evening rush hour at the train station: men in suits, a woman carrying a cello, kids lugging snowboards. Markus Marschall, a university engineering student, walked through the bustle wearing an orange T-shirt, leather jacket and aviator sunglasses — and a Sturmgewehr 90 automatic assault rifle slung over his shoulder.
"It's perfectly normal," said Marschall, 25, who carried the olive-green rifle, issued to him by the Swiss military, on a canvas... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Gun Laws Challenged, Though 'Arms Fetishists Dominate Parliament'
23 March 2007
SwissInfo
Pacifists and centre-left parties want voters to have the final say on breaking with a long-standing Swiss tradition of storing personal army rifles and pistols at home.
They said they would launch a people's initiative to ban such weapons in households. The announcement came a day after parliament refused to take action over the issue.
Supporters of the ban are expected to launch a bid to collect the necessary signatures for the vote within the next few months.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Army Rifles and Pistols 'Kill 300 People a Year,' Even in Peacetime
17 December 2006
SwissInfo
More than 300 people are killed every year by army guns, according to a study led by the Swiss criminologist Martin Killias.
These weapons play a central role in suicides and Switzerland's grim history of family killings, said the research, published on Saturday ahead of a parliamentary debate on the subject.
The study revealed that private guns and army weapons were used in 36 per cent of domestic murders.
The majority, 60 per cent, of murders outside the home on... (GunPolicy.org)
In 'Timber for Guns' Swap, Switzerland Lifts Arms Export Ban to Liberia
1 December 2006
Business in Africa (Johannesburg)
MONROVIA — An embargo by the Swiss government on the importation of Liberian timber and related products has been lifted, a diplomatic source said on Thursday.
The source also said that from December 1, policy would also be modified to allow Liberia to import arms for use in security and police forces.
The modification was in line with a UN Security Council resolution that softened an international arms embargo to allow the West African nation to import weapons for... (GunPolicy.org)
Tightened Gun Controls Remain Controversial in Switzerland and Belgium
27 September 2006
SwissInfo
Parliament has been discussing changes to Swiss gun laws exactly five years after the country's worst shooting incident.
But observers warn the changes, which will bring Switzerland in line with European Union guidelines and which were approved by the Senate in June, are unlikely to prevent future gun attacks.
The EU's Schengen accord on cross-border crime lays down minimum requirements for acquiring and possessing firearms. Swiss voters agreed to sign up to the... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Women's Magazine Delivers Petition to Ban Military Guns in Homes
19 September 2006
SwissInfo
A women's magazine has collected 17,400 signatures in a bid to rid Swiss households of hundreds of thousands of weapons.
The petition comes amid discussions in parliament over whether to scrap the country's militia army tradition requiring guns and ammunition to be kept at home.
Staff at Annabelle handed over the signatures to a parliamentary committee in Bern on Tuesday.
The petition, "No weapons at home", is calling for a ban on shotguns at home, for army rifles... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Delay Gun, Ammunition Home Safety Move as Gun Owners Protest
18 September 2006
BBC News
GENEVA — The Swiss parliament has decided not to vote on a motion which would ban the distribution of ammunition to soldiers in the Swiss army.
Every Swiss man has to serve in the army, which means that millions of assault rifles and ammunition are stored in homes across the country.
Switzerland has one of the highest rates of suicide in the world and a high rate of family killings.
However, parliamentarians say they need to know more to make a decision.
The... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Defence Minister Says Suicide Risk No Bar to Army Guns at Home
2 September 2006
SwissInfo
Swiss Defence Minister Samuel Schmid says family tragedies and suicides are not valid reasons to stop soldiers from keeping their army weapons at home.
Schmid rejected calls for the weapons to be kept in military storage to reduce Switzerland's high rate of suicide by firearms.
In an interview in Saturday's Tages-Anzeiger newspaper of Zurich, Schmid said storing soldiers' rifles away from their homes "would not solve the underlying social problem" of suicide.
"The... (GunPolicy.org)
Study Links Switzerland's High Gun Suicide Rate to Easy Firearm Access
29 August 2006
SwissInfo
Tighter gun laws would lead to fewer suicides involving firearms in Switzerland, according to a study by Zurich University researchers.
Every day, one person kills himself or herself with a gun, more often than not a military weapon — a fact the authors say is directly connected to lax Swiss firearms legislation.
According to the study, published in the current edition of the American Journal of Public Health, Switzerland and the United States have the highest... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Suicide, Violence Prevention Groups Demand Tougher Gun Laws
13 July 2006
SwissInfo
A group of non-governmental organisations has called for tougher gun laws, pointing out that firearms are responsible for one suicide a day in Switzerland.
The NGOs, representing branches of psychiatry, violence prevention and human rights, said on Thursday that the introduction of a central arms database would avoid much pain and grief.
They pointed out that Switzerland's suicide rate at just under 1,500 a year was high compared with other countries.
The president... (GunPolicy.org)
United Nations, Switzerland Hope to End Illicit Gun Trade
28 June 2006
Swissinfo
Efforts to curb the illegal small arms trade are being assessed at an international meeting in New York. Switzerland has played a leading role in these endeavours.
The United Nations Small Arms Review Conference is examining what has been achieved in the past five years to eradicate this "global scourge" — and what remains to be done.
The conference, which started on Monday, is the first opportunity to take stock of progress since 170 member states adopted in 2001 a... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Senate Backs Revision of Gun Law, But Not National Registration
8 June 2006
SwissInfo
The Swiss Senate has come out in favour of slightly stricter rules for purchasing and keeping firearms, but a significant tightening of the law was not on the table.
It supported a ban on offering weapons anonymously through advertising or on the internet but the draft falls short of introducing a central database of all weapons in circulation.
If supported by the House of Representatives, the legislation would include baseball bats, soft air guns and bicycle chains... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Tighten Gun Control Laws, Reject Firearm Registration
7 June 2006
Neue Zürcher Zeitung / SwissInfo
The Senate is due to launch a review of the country's firearms legislation this week as part of parliament's regular summer session.
The draft law foresees a slight tightening of regulations for purchasing and keeping guns and rifles, but it falls short of introducing a central database of all weapons in circulation.
Despite a long tradition of bearing arms and fairly responsible attitudes towards guns, Switzerland is not immune to tragedy and the gun law is a... (GunPolicy.org)
In Geneva Meeting, Nations Look to Limit Law of the Gun
7 June 2006
SwissInfo
GENEVA — The damage caused by armed conflict to the economies of poorer countries is to be highlighted at an international conference in Geneva on Wednesday.
Hosted by Switzerland and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the meeting also aims to inject momentum into global efforts to restrict small arms that are responsible for at least 300,000 deaths a year.
According to the UNDP, per capita Gross Domestic Product falls by 15 per cent and the number of... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Question Guns at Home After 14 'Family Slaughter' Shootings
9 May 2006
BBC News
GENEVA — The murder last week of one of Switzerland's most famous skiers has forced the Swiss to look long and hard at a crime that is worryingly common in their society.
Corinne Rey-Bellet was shot by her husband Gerold Stadler just days after the couple had agreed to separate.
Stadler also shot and killed Rey-Bellet's brother Alain, and seriously wounded her mother, before finally killing himself.
The Swiss media tend to call cases like this "family dramas",... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Ski Star, Brother Killed With Army Gun, Husband Found Shot
4 May 2006
BBC News
The husband of murdered Swiss skiing star Corinne Rey-Bellet, suspected of killing her and her brother, has been found dead, Swiss police say.
Gerold Stadler's body was discovered in a forest near the southern town of Ollon late on Wednesday.
A gun was found near the body, but police declined to speculate on the precise circumstances of his death.
Rey-Bellet, who won silver in the 2003 World downhill, and her brother Alain were shot dead on Sunday in a chalet.... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Cabinet Says Yes to Owner Licensing, No to Gun Registration
11 January 2006
SwissInfo
The Swiss government on Wednesday recommended to parliament that all gun owners must obtain a permit.
Bowing to resistance from lobby groups, the cabinet decided against a plan to create a central national weapons register.
The cabinet said it was opposed to the database on the grounds that the time and effort it would require would greatly outweigh the benefit.
If accepted by parliament, the amended law will bring Switzerland into line with the European Union's... (GunPolicy.org)
90 Percent of Swiss Favour More Restrictive Gun Controls: Poll
22 September 2005
SwissInfo
The Swiss do not feel less safe despite a rise in crime. But according to a new study, a growing number want to see the death penalty introduced.
The Univox study released on Thursday also found that around 90 per cent of those surveyed are in favour of a more restrictive gun control policy.
Asked whether they felt safe walking alone at night in their neighbourhood, six per cent of the men surveyed said they did not — twice as many compared with 2003.
One in five... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Gun Owners Shooting Their Families: Ten Times in Past Year
28 June 2005
SwissInfo
A man kills his child or wife in their house before turning the gun on himself — this has happened at least ten times in the past year in Switzerland.
Each time, newspaper headlines have spoken of a domestic drama but such tragedies may have been caused by a man's inability to deal with his perceived failure as the family's principal breadwinner.
The latest tragedy took place in Wangen near Olten earlier this month. A 43-year-old man shot his 14-year-old son dead... (GunPolicy.org)
Europe Less Armed, Less Free
7 June 2005
Washington Times, Opinion
A week in which the French and Dutch "No" votes to the European Union constitution rocked the whole project of European unification and left its future uncertain ended with a bizarre twist. On Sunday, in famously neutral, non-EU, non-European Economic Area Switzerland, the people voted by a 53-precent referendum majority to accept the Schengen and Dublin agreements. It was a move which, in the assessment of the Center for European Policy Studies in Brussels, now renders... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Gun Lobby Fears Looming Firearm Registration
12 May 2005
Swissinfo
Shooting is more than just a sport to many Swiss, who believe a whole way of life would be under threat if the nation signs up to the Schengen accord.
Geared to improve cross-border security, the European Union agreement also lays down minimum requirements for acquiring and possessing firearms.
"The Swiss are well armed and enjoy great freedom," wrote Machiavelli in 1532.
Many Swiss today see a causal connection between the two, with three million firearms in... (GunPolicy.org)
Troops Pay to Keep Latest Assault Rifle at Home
11 March 2005
SwissInfo
Soldiers who have completed military service can hold on to the army's latest assault rifle from April 1, but they will have to pay for the pleasure.
The government says the weapons must first have their fully automatic capability disabled — and owners have to foot the bill.
Friday's ruling means Swiss soldiers can, for the first time, take home the SIG 90 assault rifle.
Previously, they had only been allowed to keep the older SIG 57 rifle and regulation... (GunPolicy.org)
Private Sale of Army Weapons Triggers Heated Debate
20 October 2004
SwissInfo
In Switzerland, soldiers who have completed military service are allowed to hold on to their guns.
A legal loophole allows these weapons to be traded freely, causing embarrassment to the authorities and provoking protests from those who fear dire consequences.
A review of the present law promises tighter gun controls, but already the market is awash with ex-military rifles and pistols at knockdown prices.
A militia army — the principle, whereby every able-bodied... (GunPolicy.org)
Government Criticised for Gun Exports to Sudan
3 July 2004
SwissInfo
Switzerland exported small arms valued at $4.3 million (SFr5.3 million) to war-torn Sudan in 2002, according to a report presented to the United Nations.
The report, from Geneva's Institute of International Studies, claims that Switzerland was the second-largest supplier of such weapons after Iran.
The Small Arms Survey 2004 describes the deliveries from Switzerland as "military weapons".
Swiss legislation forbids the export of war materiel to countries at war or to... (GunPolicy.org)
Army Rifles Remain Racked at Home
15 May 2004
SwissInfo
Switzerland's long-standing tradition of soldiers keeping their rifles at home looks set to continue — at least for the time being.
Despite the use of an army-issue rifle in a massacre in a local Swiss parliament in 2001, the defence ministry says it will maintain the practice.
"Everybody who has served in the army is allowed to keep their personal weapon, even after the end of their military service," the defence ministry said in a statement.
The ministry... (GunPolicy.org)
Swiss Leads United Nations Efforts Against Illegal Arms Trade
16 January 2004
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland)
A Swiss diplomat has been appointed to head a United Nations group working against the illegal trade in small arms and light weapons.
The body's main aim is to curb the spread of small arms, which are responsible for one death per minute worldwide.
Anton Thalmann, currently Swiss ambassador to Canada, was nominated for the post of president of the Group of Governmental Experts on Tracing Illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons on Thursday in New York. He was the only... (GunPolicy.org)
Zug Massacre Fades from Public Memory
25 October 2003
Neue Zürcher Zeitung (Switzerland) / Swissinfo
Switzerland has marked the second anniversary of an attack on the cantonal parliament in Zug, which left 15 people dead.
Switzerland's worst-ever massacre prompted a review of public security and led to calls for a tightening of the gun laws.
For fifteen minutes from midday on Saturday, bells rang out in churches across the canton of Zug, in memory of the Zug massacre and also of all victims of violence.
In the evening, prayers were said at a private service in St... (GunPolicy.org)
Final Report: Zug Gunman Was 'Cold-Blooded' Killer
23 October 2003
SwissInfo
The final report came a month after the second anniversary of the massacre (Keystone)
The man behind Switzerland's worst-ever massacre acted in cold blood when he killed 14 people in Zug's cantonal parliament in 2001.
Friedrich Leibacher also operated alone and died after turning a gun on himself, according to the final report into the bloodbath.
The publication of the findings by the canton Zug authorities comes a month after the second anniversary of the tragedy,... (GunPolicy.org)
John Lott: Policymakers Aiming in the Wrong Direction
2 October 2003
National Review (USA), Opinion
Two years ago — on September 27, 2001 — a lone gunman shot and killed shot 14 people in the cantonal parliament in Zug, near Zurich. To the Swiss justice minister, Ruth Metzler, the country's liberal gun laws were responsible. Joined by the Swiss People's party, the Radical party, and the Swiss business federation, Metzler has called for registering guns, banning others, and tightening controls on buying guns as obvious solutions to make sure nothing like that... (GunPolicy.org)
Global Model for Gun Rights Going Soft?
25 September 2003
World Net Daily (USA), Opinion
Switzerland's minister of justice has called for national gun registration in a country held up by U.S. gun-rights advocates as a model for armed societies.
The call by Ruth Metler comes just a week before the second anniversary of Switzerland's worst multiple gun homicide. Nearly two years ago, a lone gunman armed with a fully automatic military rifle stormed the parliament building in Zug and killed 14 elected officials. A similar number were wounded, said reports.... (GunPolicy.org)
Security Worries Persist as Zug Marks Anniversary of Massacre
22 September 2003
SwissInfo
A key problem has been balancing tighter security with civil rights.
On September 27, 2001 a lone gunman walked into the parliament in canton Zug and opened fire with a semi-automatic weapon. He killed 14 people — three members of the cantonal government and 11 lawmakers — before turning the gun on himself.
Inevitably, security was tightened at public buildings, and ministers were given better protection. But in the wake of the shooting, the country faced a... (GunPolicy.org)
Justice Minister Calls for Tighter Gun Controls
22 September 2003
SwissInfo
The Swiss justice minister, Ruth Metzler, has called for stricter gun controls in order to boost public security. In a newspaper interview, Metzler said all firearms should be centrally registered.
There are between one and three million guns in Switzerland, according to the justice minister, who described the situation as "worrying".
Metzler said a central register would be a step towards increasing public security.
She said it would better distinguish people who... (GunPolicy.org)
