Swiss not a fan of proposed EU gun controls
The proposed directive, which applies to non-EU member Switzerland only because it is part of Europe’s Schengen open border system, has raised hackles among the Swiss, who resent intervention from Brussels.
Christoph Blocher, a leading voice of the Swiss right and a eurosceptic, says Switzerland should consider abandoning Europe’s Schengen system of passport-free travel if the Swiss people rejected the proposed measures in a referendum.
Drafted after militants killed scores in attacks in Paris last year, the EU plans on gun control aimed to curb online weapons sales and impose more restrictions on assault weapons.
But the initial proposal provoked an outcry in Switzerland because it meant a ban on the long Swiss tradition of ex-soldiers keeping their assault rifles.
Then, two months ago, Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga returned from meetings in Brussels saying she had successfully negotiated against such a ban. But the fine print was more complicated: EU members demanded concessions including psychological tests and club membership.
Swiss gun rights proponents are now complaining this could disarm thousands of law-abiding citizens and that it would encroach on Switzerland’s heritage and national identity that includes a well-armed citizenry.
“When conflicts arise, Switzerland must put its sovereignty first,” said Blocher, a businessman and vice president of the SVP, which is the country’s biggest party. “In an emergency, Switzerland should be ready to exit Schengen.”
After terror attacks, they want to go take guns away from all the people who didn’t perform the terror attacks.
September 2nd, 2016 at 6:36 pm
A self-evident mantra:
ONLY YOUR ENEMY WANTS YOU DISARMED
The ruling oligarchy who wants to disarm the Swiss people, just as here against the American people, are those who take from others what they keep for themselves. That too, is always a marker for evil.
September 2nd, 2016 at 6:42 pm
Beats me why the Swiss simply don’t say “Sure okay, loonies.” while holding crossed fingers behind their backs. What are Belgian or French or Italian police going to do? Go on a Swiss citizen by Swiss citizen background check? Verify that each Swiss citizen is a gun club member? That each Swiss citizen keeps his rifle securely locked up?
September 2nd, 2016 at 7:48 pm
I would call for the EU to be castrated, but it’s already running on pointy-headed shrieking, isn’t it?
September 2nd, 2016 at 8:53 pm
Switzerland should get on the train, go to Brussels, and finish the EU gnomes….
September 2nd, 2016 at 10:04 pm
Uncle: of course they do! If you allow the peasants arms, they might fight back on their own, and that’s not tolerable.
And at some point they might tell you ‘No’ about something, and that is inconceivable!
Chas, that’s why I call them the EUnuchs.
September 3rd, 2016 at 3:51 am
California is not spelled S-w-i-t-z-e-r-l-a-n-d.
September 3rd, 2016 at 9:30 am
That the EU cannot tell the difference between terrorists bearing arms and citizens bearing arms is cause for concern. Because if they can tell the difference, and still act this way, it is cause for revolution.
September 3rd, 2016 at 4:39 pm
Firehand wins the post; EUnuchs!
September 3rd, 2016 at 8:46 pm
I have spent only a small amount of time in Switzerland, but in that time (which included observing some police activity) I learned that the Swiss are polite people, generally friendly to foreigners as long as you are paying your own way, but they don’t mess around. Their attitude is, “We are the Swiss, and you’re not.” They will not take orders from Brussells, and good for them.
September 4th, 2016 at 10:14 am
“We are the Swiss, and you’re not.” They will not take orders from Brussells, and good for them. –Chas Clifton
For the most part, that is the way it is supposed to be with the “free and independent States” of our nation.