TargetTalk

Switzerland held this week end a referendum to vote for a more restrictive gun law. The wish for more restraining gun laws was proposed by women organizations, some religious groups and the socialist party.
The proposal was rejected by 60% of the voters!
Does that make the Swiss or Switzerland 'dangerous'? Would we dare to go on holiday there? :-))
Guy

We've learned over here in the U.S.A. that defending our rights is ongoing. The groups who would restrict our rights are always on the offensive. We've joined together and produced strong organizations who defend our rights and have even gone on the offensive in recent years to restore some rights eroded over time. It's never over.

That was actually a pretty close call. Tricky Basterds tried to hide a prohibitive legal package behind a oh-so-good suicide prevention program (which basically would be a good thing, but has statistically almost nothing to do with legal gun ownership - AND the stats they used were faked) and the endless discussion about the army assault rifle (that may actually be worth discussing, it that was done objectively). Luckily at least some people recognized the thing for what it was (to criminalize gun ownership), and the rest was a knee-jerk reaction to leftist propaganda by the more conservative part of Switzerland. One of the biggest problems was the media (especially the newspapers) that sided completely with the initiants. I hope they pay for that.

Good going Swiss voters!!

Thank you Tycho for the details! I was actually waiting for your comments but thought you were still partying the outcome of the vote.
Guy

This is a permanent discussion in democratic countries
http://lewistownpistolclub.com/

Anonymous wrote:This is a permanent discussion in democratic countries
http://lewistownpistolclub.com/

Anonymous wrote:This is a permanent discussion in democratic countries
http://lewistownpistolclub.com/

When I read the article in the link I thought it was rediculous; that law only pertains to persuing wildlife. After reading the law again with the eyes of a low life lawyer, I see where the case is being built.

Has your club contacted the PA Game Commission to get those words in red removed from the safety zone law?

Sec. 2505. Safety zones.
(a) General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this title or to any political subdivision, its employees or agents, which has a valid deer control permit issued under section 2902(c) (relating to special categories of permits), it is unlawful for any person, other than the lawful occupant, while hunting game or wildlife, taking furbearers of any kind, or pursuing any other privilege granted by this title, to hunt for, take, trap, pursue, disturb or otherwise chase any game or wildlife or to discharge, for any reason, any firearm, arrow or other deadly weapon within or through a safety zone, or to shoot at any game or wildlife while it is within the safety zone without the specific advance permission of the lawful occupant thereof.

I emailed them your idea.

gn303 wrote:Switzerland held this week end a referendum to vote for a more restrictive gun law. The wish for more restraining gun laws was proposed by women organizations, some religious groups and the socialist party.
The proposal was rejected by 60% of the voters!

60% is a number that means that you will see this topic come up for vote again, and again, and again, ....

A number like 95% and you could sit back and relax for a year or so.

Things don't move that fast here. And 60% is pretty good - not many things here are decided by more than that. The left is taking a lot of egg in their face lately, so hopefully they will change their favourite subject for the time being. They are fighting a lot of fights, against this and that (nuclear power, asyl rights, climate change etc etc etc), and new gun laws weren't really high on their list in general. They just came up, it's been like 10 years since the last vote about it. We will see some changes in the short term future, but not all of those are bad, even if the right will say so (politicians there too). At least gun control will not switch to the ministry of health now (no joke) and we will still be able to buy something when we want to, not when some bureacrat may be in the mood to allow us to.

Good news indeed.

For one thing, I haven't heard of a Swiss battle rifle being used in a criminal fashion, was that just a smokescreen to scare people?

As far as public perception, Switzerland is still the land of chocolates, mountains and cow bells, whilst the external opinion of the US tends to be images of blood on the streets as 5 year olds run around with guns they find laying all over the place like dirty syringes.

The portrayal of a country via the media really does affect a significant population. Global media portrays the US as a place where you are likely to be killed by a gun as soon as you walk out of the door. It's crazy stuff, and fortunately the reality is far different. But if they never visit the real thing, the media image is the one that they will retain.

Bubbles wrote:Good news indeed.

For one thing, I haven't heard of a Swiss battle rifle being used in a criminal fashion, was that just a smokescreen to scare people?

As far as public perception, Switzerland is still the land of chocolates, mountains and cow bells, whilst the external opinion of the US tends to be images of blood on the streets as 5 year olds run around with guns they find laying all over the place like dirty syringes.

The portrayal of a country via the media really does affect a significant population. Global media portrays the US as a place where you are likely to be killed by a gun as soon as you walk out of the door. It's crazy stuff, and fortunately the reality is far different. But if they never visit the real thing, the media image is the one that they will retain.

You're very correct, Bubbles.
It happens with the news media to manipulate the perceptions even of the locals. My father-in-law only heard about the criminals shooting people with their handguns in Wilmington, DE. He was of the opinion that the only use for them was crime. I took him to a pistol match once, but I don't think it was enough to convince him otherwise. I told him I fired over 10,000 rounds in two years and only made the local newspaper when I won, not when I shot someone.

Tycho wrote:That was actually a pretty close call. Tricky Basterds tried to hide a prohibitive legal package behind a oh-so-good suicide prevention program (which basically would be a good thing, but has statistically almost nothing to do with legal gun ownership - AND the stats they used were faked) and the endless discussion about the army assault rifle (that may actually be worth discussing, it that was done objectively). Luckily at least some people recognized the thing for what it was (to criminalize gun ownership), and the rest was a knee-jerk reaction to leftist propaganda by the more conservative part of Switzerland. One of the biggest problems was the media (especially the newspapers) that sided completely with the initiants. I hope they pay for that.

The same happened here in Brazil 6 years ago, and the socialist party, still in the government , lost by 65%.
But every year since then they make a public campaign against guns possession and the results of the referendum.
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