Switzerland has a stunningly high rate of gun ownership -- here's why it doesn't have mass shootings

[Demovictory9]

Switzerland hasn't had a mass shooting since 2001, when a man stormed the local parliament in Zug, killing 14 people and then himself.

The country has about 2 million privately owned guns in a nation of 8.3 million people. In 2016, the country had 47 attempted homicides with firearms. The country's overall murder rate is near zero.

The National Rifle Association often points to Switzerland to argue that more rules on gun ownership aren't necessary. In 2016, the NRA said on its blog that the European country had one of the lowest murder rates in the world while still having millions of privately owned guns and a few hunting weapons that don't even require a permit.

But the Swiss have some specific rules and regulations for gun use.

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Swiss authorities decide on a local level whether to give people gun permits. They also keep a log of everyone who owns a gun in their region, known as a canton, though hunting rifles and some semiautomatic long arms are exempt from the permit requirement.

But cantonal police don't take their duty dolling out gun licenses lightly. They might consult a psychiatrist or talk with authorities in other cantons where a prospective gun buyer has lived before to vet the person.


Swiss laws are designed to prevent anyone who's violent or incompetent from owning a gun.

People who've been convicted of a crime or have an alcohol or drug addiction aren't allowed to buy guns in Switzerland.

The law also states that anyone who "expresses a violent or dangerous attitude" won't be permitted to own a gun.

Gun owners who want to carry their weapon for "defensive purposes" also have to prove they can properly load, unload, and shoot their weapon and must pass a test to get a license.

Switzerland is also one of the richest, healthiest, and, by some measures, happiest countries in the world.

https://news.yahoo.com/switzerland-stunningly-high-rate-gun-221301534.html

[Frasier Balzov]

1. Well bully for the Swiss. The USA obviously can't handle it.

That's okay, different cultures different aptitudes.

Now that this is readily observable, let's start some serious interruption of the supply of guns and ammunition to the American public.

[elleng]

2. Thank you.

[crickets]

3. Both proper regulation and a different national mindset make a big difference.

Switzerland was ranked sixth in the UN's 2019 World Happiness Report.

The Swiss have been consistently near the top of this list. In 2017, when Switzerland was ranked fourth overall among nations, the report authors noted that the country tends to do well on "all the main factors found to support happiness: caring, freedom, generosity, honesty, health, income and good governance."

Meanwhile, according to the report, happiness has taken a dive over the past decade in the US.

Getting rid of the hateful talking heads on Fox would go a long, long way to improving the mood of the country.

[Xolodno]

4. There is also a philosophical difrence.

Private citizens own guns for a possible invasion from a foreign entity. Here in the USA, its for the use to take down our own government.

[BlueIdaho]

5. The Swiss may have a high percentage

Of gun ownership- but they don’t have a “gun culture.”

[Phoenix61]

6. Apparently they know how to secure them because I haven't

heard of any children killing their mom in the car.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. It's not that high - 27.6/100 people; USA is 120.5

https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/resources/SAS-BP-Civilian-Firearms-Numbers.pdf
https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/database/global-firearms-holdings

so it's under a quarter the American rate. Canada, Austria and Norway are among the countries with a slightly higher rate than Switzerland (the USA is the really extreme country). France and Germany are both 19.6. England and Wales is 4.64.

[Demovictory9]

11. Switzerland, it's one gun each. America, many people have 10 - 20 guns or more

Switzerland - every man is assigned one gun for a bit of time.

America - vast numbers, especially in cities, have no guns, but lots of men have arsenals.

[PTWB]

16. I'd be interested to see a comparison of the number of guns per gun owning household

My anecdotal experience is that in the USA, large portions of the population have either many guns or no guns, with a relatively small subset having only one gun. I have quite a few different firearms in my vault, each with a different specialty. I also have quite a few different tools in my workshop, each with a different specialty.

[DFW]

8. It sounds like the NRA doesn't know a whole lot about Switzerland (or doesn't want to).

I have an office in Switzerland, and my guy there was subject to compulsory military service like just about all Swiss males. After serving his required time, he was in the reserves (also mandatory) and had to participate in maneuvers in the mountains, freezing his ass off for two weeks out of the year. All reservists are required to keep their weapons at home for easy access and defense (holdover from World War II, when the Axis powers were on about 85% or Switzerland's border--100% if you count occupied German-occupied France).

Since about half of the Swiss are men, well DUH, of course there are millions of guns kept in Swiss homes. The difference is that the Swiss try to make sure the guns are stored with mature, responsible men trained in their use (and trained NOT to use them when not called for). Nut cases are deliberately weeded out, not given the chance to buy them the second they are old enough to get a driver's license (18 in most of Europe). Since he passed the age for required reservist duty, I don't think my Swiss guy has even looked at his gun, except to possibly clean it every few years, in decades. How many American gun owners can truthfully say THAT?

[AntiFascist]

9. This is what a "well-regulated militia" looks like....

In December 2007, the Swiss Federal Council decided that the distribution of ammunition to soldiers would stop and that previously issued ammo would be returned. By March 2011, more than 99% of the ammo has been received. Only 2,000 specialist militia members (who protect airports and other sites of particular sensitivity) are permitted to keep their military-issued ammunition at home. The rest of the militia get their ammunition from their military armoury in the event of an emergency.

When their period of service has ended, militia men have the choice of buying their personal weapon after it has been converted to semi-automatic and keeping other selected items of their equipment. However, keeping the weapon after end of service requires a weapon acquisition permit (art. 26-33 VPAA/OEPM).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_regulation_in_Switzerland#Army-issued_arms_and_ammunition_collection

[DFW]

10. As opposed to the USA, where militias are never regulated

Not even one man militias.

And our horrifying record reflects it.

[Demovictory9]

12. "don't think my Swiss guy has even looked at his gun" - In USG gun pulled out for disputes

at traffic stops and disputes with neighbors. at the drop of a hat, out comes the gun

[DFW]

13. I doubt he has even HAD a dispute with his neighbors in 20 years.

He lives about halfway between the high rent district downtown and the airport. He inherited his small house from his dad, otherwise he would never have been able to afford a house within the Geneva city limits. It's a tiny, modest neighborhood, with people happy to be able to live there at all. They do not tend to have disputes with their neighbors. The clostest they get to seeing guns in that neighborhood is when newspapers are delivered with photo headlines about school shootings in the USA.

[PJMcK]

14. This is a flawed comparison

The Swiss have much stronger gun laws and enforcement the the U.S.

More importantly, per capita, the Swiss have no where near as many guns as Americans. The article states that the Swiss have “2 million privately owned guns in a nation of 8.3 million people.” In the U.S., there are about 329.5 million people and an estimated 394 million guns in civilian ownership.

The U.S. has more guns than people.

[hunter]

15. Most people in the U.S.A. can't be bothered to own a gun.

A certain number of people like hunters and ranchers use guns for utilitarian purposes. These kinds of guns last forever, since they are usually kept locked away unused.

That leave's "gun culture" as the only market for new guns -- people who already own multiple guns. A lot of the people who participate in that culture probably shouldn't own any guns and might not be given permits in places like Switzerland.

This huge market, driven entirely by gun culture, also makes it easy for mass murderers and violent criminals to obtain these weapons.

[PJMcK]

17. Right you are

One of our neighbors in the Catskills has five firearms: a semi-automatic rifle, a high-powered rifle with a scope (with night vision, like a sniper’s weapon), a double-barreled shotgun, a big revolver (a 45 magnum, I think) and a Glock pistol.

He shoots them up the mountain into the woods. I don’t know if he carries but many people in this rural area conceal-carry. When I go into any establishment, I’m aware that people around me have firearms.

It’s sick.

[Samrob]

18. Switzerland has good reason for high gun owner ship. Look where they are located. Putin lives. nt

[mainer]

19. Switzerland keeps track of both guns and ammo

What’s allowed under Swiss gun law?

All citizens have the fundamental right to possess guns under the law but may require a license to do so. For example, those looking to acquire a handgun need a permit valid for a maximum of nine months. However, no license is needed to possess firearms for hunting or sport.

All 26 cantons keep track of the guns held within their borders as well as the ammunition. A seller of a hunting rifle, for example, must report the sale and the name of the owner to cantonal authorities.

Ammunition and guns must be stored separately and securely.

Carrying a gun in public requires a license that is only issued if the applicant proves they are qualified. The applicant must demonstrate a need it to protect themselves against existing dangers and must also pass an exam on violent crime laws and proper gun handling before being allowed to carry.

A carrying license allows for the concealed carrying of a handgun. Unloaded weapons being transported to the shooting range or hunting field do not require such a carrying license.

Since Switzerland has a militia army, members of its military may keep their unloaded service weapons at home. However, the ammunition is strictly regulated by the army.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/bearing-arms_how-gun-loving-switzerland-regulates-its-firearms/43573832