[bigcheese]

Hmmm... my bro-in-law lives in switzerland and is an officer. "In Switzerland you're given a limited number of bullets in a sealed tin. If [when you report for service] the seal is broken, you're thrown in jail..." Never have heard of this. Not saying it is not true in some way, but...

Officers have handguns, everyone else has full auto crowd pleasers (what type? dunno). anyway, my bro-in-law kept his gun loaded and extra bullets laying next to it, so I highly doubt this whole "tin" thing.

granted, the culture is different in that there is alot less problems with burglary, mischief and what-not outside of the home; but it is also common knowledge that you simply don't go breaking into someone's home because of the gun they prolly have (immigrants do not and i would suppose convicted criminals). Switzerland, to me, is the numero uno example of why every home should be armed.

[-=[_Super_Secret_Agent_]=-]

well, this article was ten years ago (november 1990) so i don't know. but still a good read.

[Oztrich Boy]

"In Switzerland you're given a limited number of bullets in a sealed tin. If [when you report for service] the seal is broken, you're thrown in jail..." Never have heard of this. Not saying it is not true in some way, but...

Yes that is the ammuntion the Swiss soldier has to have as mobilization-ready rounds.

As I understand the system, he is issued with the tin, sealed with a governmemnt stamp (which is why, as the VPC explains it, possession of an assault weapon with ammuntion in the home does not lead to the expected mass-shootings - breaking that seal would be against the law).
At the end of 12 months he returns that tin, seal intact (which then becomes "military-surplus sale" stock) and is issued with a new sealed tin.

[El Gato]

Officers have handguns, everyone else has full auto crowd pleasers (what type? dunno). anyway, my bro-in-law kept his gun loaded and extra bullets laying next to it, so I highly doubt this whole "tin" thing.

The Stg. 90 (Sig 550 is the manufacturers designation)

The "tin thing" is correct, but as the article points out, that's not the only ammunition to be had, it's just that ammo that must be accounted for to the Army, who after all, issued it, and probably retains technical ownership of. Lots is available from ranges or at stores. The store bought stuff is "registered", much as all handgun ammo was here until the 1986 Gun Owners Protection Act recinded that portion of the 1968 Gun Control Act. The Stg-90 replaces the Stgw.57 (Sig 510)