This guy is officially a sheep.
Posted on 05/12/2005 7:43:51 AM PDT by DocH
Taking aim: the Swiss gun lobby fears restrictions on weapons' purchases
(PHOTO)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 private hands.
And when they realised that a yes to Schengen would require changes to their liberal firearm laws, they came out with all guns blazing.
"We won’t let ourselves be disarmed by the EU!" says Willy Pfund, from the Committee for a Free Gun Law, which is calling for Schengen to be rejected, and also president of Pro Tell, a 7,000-strong pro-gun lobby.
"Not only is the security of Switzerland at stake but also the sovereignty of its gun laws," Pfund added.
Pro Tell sees Schengen as the beginning of a slippery slope.
"If Switzerland enters into Schengen, sooner or later it will be forced to take on further tightening of European gun laws," Pfund said.
The Swiss public is set to vote on whether to implement the accord, which covers other cross-border security issues and the removal of border controls with EU member states, on June 5. The upcoming ballot is also making emotions run high.
"This is an imported law that brings us nothing – it’s a farce!" Fritz Kilchenmann, president of the Zurich Shooting Association, told swissinfo.
"Respectable and law-abiding marksmen, hunters and gun collectors are being compared to criminals. You won’t prevent any crimes by taking weapons away from private owners and banning them," said Kilchenmann.
Difference of opinion
Not all hunters, however, are calling for a no.
"Hunters can live with Schengen," says Urs Weber, director of the 200,000-member Swiss Shooting Association.
"I had to register my mobile phone – I don’t see why one should refuse to register a weapon."
JagdSchweiz, an umbrella organisation for Swiss hunters, has also distanced itself from Pro Tell's stance.
It says the revision of the gun laws is only a small part of Schengen’s security efforts as a whole.
New laws
The main change that Schengen will have on gun laws, should the Swiss vote in its favour, is that the previous distinction between retail and private purchases would no longer apply.
Both types of acquisition would have to be reported to a cantonal office as well as weapons obtained by inheritance.
The firearms would also be classified as falling into one of three categories.
The first is banned weapons (automatic guns, disguised weapons and weapons of war such as grenade and rocket launchers), for which an exemption is required.
The second category is weapons requiring approval (revolvers, pistols and semi-automatics) and an acquisition certificate.
A reason must be given when applying for the acquisition certificate (although an interest in guns will do!) but the buyer does not have to prove a need.
Hunters, sports shooters and collectors are exempt from giving a reason for purchase.
The third category is weapons which have to be simply reported. These include rifles used for hunting and sports shooting.
In addition, a European firearms passport will be introduced, which will make life easier for hunters or sports shooters temporarily exporting guns to or passing through a Schengen state.
The requirements which apply to the purchase of weapons will also apply to ammunition.
No change
However, the guidelines have a limited area of application and give the Swiss legislature a degree of flexibility.
Swiss law will still have the final say on many issues.
This means that the Schengen accord will have no effect on the Swiss militia, young people’s shooting clubs, the right of soldiers to store their military rifles at home or the requirement that they return them when they leave the army.
The accord also does not require a central national weapons register and would not affect the carrying of firearms.
Finally, Schengen will not affect hunting and shooting in Switzerland – national laws regarding such things as hunting permits, the hunting season and shooting events will still stand.
High emotions
Switzerland’s recent history in gun-ownership has been chequered.
In 2001 a gunman entered the cantonal parliament in Zug, killing 14 people before turning the gun on himself. All his firearms, including an army-issue assault rifle, were legally acquired.
The killings shocked a country with a higher per capita rate of gun ownership than the United States but comparatively little gun crime.
The then justice minister, Ruth Metzler, said all guns should be centrally registered, sparking an outcry from the gun lobby and some politicians. The plans were later put on ice.
swissinfo, Thomas Stephens
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URL of this story http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=105&sid=5736420
Related Sites Swiss justice ministry: http://www.bj.admin.ch/e/index.html Bilateral agreements including Schengen/Dublin: http://www.europa.admin.ch/nbv/e/index.htm proTELL (German/French/Italian): http://www.protell.ch/ swissinfo country profile - politics: http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=2605&sid=5246574&cKey=1096632123000 swissinfo country profile - Switzerland and the EU: http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=2605&sid=5247198&cKey=1099037097000
Here's a difference: There aren't well-organized and in some cases concealed efforts to take away mobile phones. (However, in one place with phone registration, phone confiscation has followed - North Korea, following the huge train explosion.)
At least the Swiss still have the nads to fight to keep their gun rights.
This guy is officially a sheep.
I don't see why one should have to register his mobile phone.
You're officially not a sheep.
Second-Amendment BUMP
However, it appears that the particular sheep in your photo may be wearing a concealed-carry vest.
Unfortunately, for him, it also appears that his handgun is "printing" (visible).
Unfortunately, for him, it also appears that his handgun is "printing" (visible).
LOL. Every time I see one of those vests, I gotta laugh, worst cases of concealment I've ever seen.
You too can be just like a REAL secret service agent!
Nothing like drawing attention to yourself.
By the way, I like your tagline.
Be Ever Vigilant!
Of course, this would cause much envy among the 'small caliber' crowd.
BTTT!
Not afflicted with "caliber envy", I have almost always carried a .45 ACP (or at least a .38/.357 when necessary).
Many Swiss today see a causal connection between the two, with three million firearms in private hands.
There is a direct causal connection between Switzerland being armed and it also being free. The only thing that prevented a German invasion in WW2 was the fact that the Swiss had no less than 250,000 soldiers and militia (mostly the latter) on duty at all times, and usually had 400,000+ on duty. That, plus the fact that they could mobilize 850,000 in 24 hours, and had plans to withdraw most forces to a national redoubt in the Swiss Alps, where the panzers and Luftwaffe wouldn't have been able to operate. Anyone interested should read Stephen Halbrook's book, "Target Switzerland," where he details Swiss efforts to stay independent.
The Swiss militia model is what our Founding Fathers had in mind for our militia. It would be a crying shame if that system were to be destroyed by the sheep of Switzerland that wish to be "part of Europe" instead of free and independent.
"Hunters can live with Schengen," says Urs Weber, director of the 200,000-member Swiss Shooting Association.
"I had to register my mobile phone – I don’t see why one should refuse to register a weapon."
Bahhh. Baaaahhhhhh. BAAAAAAHHHHHH!
As far as the Swiss and their guns go, it's a shame that only thousands of Swiss citizens are members of pro-gun groups like Pro-Tell, while they have as much as 3 MILLION firearms in private hands.
It's also a shame that here in America, of about 80 MILLION guns owned, only a fraction of their owners are involved in protecting and defending our 2nd Amendment rights.
Sadly, many of them are probably the same type of hunting SHEEPLE ("hunters can live with Shengen") that live in ignorance and denial in Switzerland.
I have compared the gun laws in Switzerland to those in America. We have more gun freedoms then they do in most states.
Below is a picture of the Swiss militia rifle the Sig 550. I have heard that it functions much better than the M-16.
The Swiss have to fight their own fight. Hopefully, they are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their sovereignty, freedoms, and traditions intact.
Also, I hope there are enough of us here willing and able to do the same if our leftist, anti-gun, anti-American scumbags (mainly demonrats) get back in power and start trying to take away our fundamental rights again.
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