Fairfax, VA – -(Ammoland.com)- As NRA-ILA reported on April 27, peaceful Switzerland is in the crosshairs of international and domestic gun control advocates who are intent on abolishing the idyllic nation’s tradition of an armed citizenry. Using the 2017 changes to the European Firearms Directive as justification, these foreign and home-grown forces are attempting to burden the tranquil republic with gun controls the Swiss people have continually rejected. However, as was pointed out in a recent Bloomberg article, many Swiss citizens are refusing to take this assault on their inalienable rights and national sovereignty lying down.
In the Swiss tradition of neutrality, Switzerland is not a member of the European Union. However, Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Agreement, which created the Schengen Area. Schengen Area states have abolished the international border checks between them and permit the free movement of people throughout the area.
As members of the Schengen Area, non-EU members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein are obligated to comply with certain EU laws. In 2017, the EU imposed further firearms restrictions on its Member States when it enacted a new version of the European Firearms Directive. Under the European Firearms Directive, all Member States, and those under the Schengen Agreement, are required to meet a minimum threshold of gun restrictions. The 2017 update enacted more stringent firearms registration and licensing requirements, and re-categorized certain types of semi-automatic firearms and their magazines in a way that nearly prohibits civilian possession.
The Swiss Federal Council has put forward gun control legislation that would bring the country’s gun laws in line with the new Firearms Directive, contending that the onerous new rules would require “little effort” from gun owners.
As NRA-ILA previously noted and the Bloomberg piece reiterates, Swiss gun rights group ProTell and the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) are leading the charge against the new legislation.
Referencing a Firearms Directive provision that would make it harder for Swiss citizens to possess semi-automatic firearms and the Swiss tradition of permitting members of the militia to possess their military rifle after service, Bloomberg quoted ProTell Secretary-General Robin Udry as stating, “It would mean that the day you leave the army, you’re no longer trusted with your SIG 550 and treated like a potential terrorist or criminal.”Udry went on to explain, “In Switzerland, these kind of guns are all very well-controlled, so why should we now accept legislation from the EU when we don’t have this problem?”
In a piece for the SVP website, National Councilor David Zuberbühler outlined the party’s position on the new EU gun law. Zuberbühler explained that complying with the new rules would result in more bureaucracy and less security, by requiring the Swiss cantons to establish large and costly administrative schemes. Noting that the new restrictions would do nothing to combat terrorism, the councilor explained that violent criminals would acquire their weapons on the black market. Zuberbühler also pointed out that in 2011 Swiss citizens had the opportunity to adopt strict gun controls through a referendum. These gun restrictions were rejected at the polls.
Further, there is increasing evidence that Swiss citizens are gearing up for a fight. According to English-language Swiss news site Swissinfo.ch, ProTell membership rose 44 percent from June 2017 to April 2018, fueled by opposition to the new EU gun restrictions. The site quoted interim ProTell President Jean-Luc Addor, who said, “This increase shows that more and more citizens are worried about their rights and freedoms in this country.”Confident in the Swiss people’s respect for their right to keep and bear arms, ProTell has warned politicians that it is prepared to gather the 50,000 signatures necessary to hold a referendum to reject the new EU gun laws.
As with other attempts to exert national sovereignty in the face of the EU superstate, some have resorted to fear tactics to force the Swiss to comply with the new Firearms Directive. According to the Bloomberg piece, Pierre-Alain Fridez of the Swiss Socialist party has warned that if the Swiss do not capitulate, they would be thrown “out of Schengen” and would “lose the freedom of movement.” Swedish Green Party Member of European Parliament Bodil Valero had a similar warning, stating that a failure to comply “would drive a wedge between the EU and Switzerland and could lead to sanction measures.”
Director of the Global Studies Institute at the University of Geneva Rene Schwok offered a more measured take on the potential referendum. Schwok explained, “The Federal Council and the parliaments will ultimately not automatically abandon Schengen just because of this vote…They will try to negotiate an arrangement with Brussels.”
NRA-ILA will continue to monitor Swiss gun rights supporters’ battle to preserve their republican heritage of an armed citizenry and will apprise our members of the latest developments in this vital fight for freedom.
About:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
I agree, that is what we’re seeing in the USA and now Switzerland (CH). The EU is trying to use the treaty of Schengen Area to threaten CH with travel restrictions if they don’t capitulate to EU’s demands. BS, no EU nation will want NOT to receive trade from Swiss citizens whether business, tourism, or simply heading across the border to buy less expensive goods. CH was very correct and wise to not join the EU a decade or so ago and will be wise again in standing up to EU in this regard. Switzerland needs to stand up (I’m… Read more »
THE NEW NATZIS TRYING TO DOMINATE THE WORLD. EVEN IF YOU DON’R BELONG TO THEIR GROUP THEY WANT TO IMPOSE THEIR CONTROL ON EVERYBOBY. RAISE UP SWITZERLAND. NO TO THE NEW NATZIS AND THEIR WORLD DOMINATION.
Most folks don’t read stuff typed in all upper case.
People who type in upper case are like the guy on the corner talking to the voices only he can hear. I keep on walking and never, ever make eye contact.
your comment is as ridiculous and meaningless that only compares to the garbage can in the corner that everybody avoids you know why. so read it in lower caps now. end.
The idiots read it let them be Hypocrites lying scabs
So why did you switch? Tag, you’re it.
Thats not true, I for one don;t give a shit one way or the other. What most people don’t like is people complaining and whining about simple shit that doesn’t really matter . I could care less about capital letters , I care about this country going down hill because of people letting more and immigrants pack into this country like rats, I care about gun control nut jobs running around spewing lies about law abiding people like myself. I am sure most people care about our vets getting treated like crap and they don’t deserve that. I hope more… Read more »
Right on brother.
Amen to that man!
Sanctions? Who died and appointed the E.U. clowns as the head of any country on this planet. I doubt if the U.S. would honor those sanctions. The Swiss need to tell them to go fly a kite and take the U.N. with them. Power hungary morons without any balls to back it up. Oh, we have more than our share in this country, also.
Congratulations to the Swiss populace for sticking up for what is right. If it became necessary that may be worth a fight we need to defend.
@Oldvet If the hag did get elected we would be looking at blue helmets and life would never be the same. I think that is a big reason we need to boot the UN off our soil so they would have more trouble taking us over and controlling us.
@OV and Tc, Gawd, what an ugly thought! It would be like having a bitchy girl friend in charge of everything in the whole country.
@ Wild Bill A bitchy girl friend? Eventually you could shed her but having HC around is for life as we well can see even when she lost. Can you imagine what it would be like if she won?
Be glad the NRA isn’t negotiating your rights. You’d lose a part of something. Keep up the fight. Remain sovereign!!
You beat me to it. I was going to say the same thing. The NRA has lobbied for and/or written every major guncontrol bill in the US starting with the 1934 monstrosity. They are the biggest guncontrol lobby in the US.
Flat out not true!……
Yes it is, liar.
I hope the Swiss know they are being played, like someone else said in this post some people are trying to create a new world order for everyone to follow , so tell them hell no , Swiss people good luck over there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stay alert. Stay armed. Practice. The police only show up after your dead.
There is one simple solution, and I hope the Swiss figure it out. It will do an end run round the stupid restrictions the EU are wanting to smother them with. When a young man joins the military now, he serves whatever time is required, then is released, taking his personal weapon home with him, s his own, then goes about his business as he chooses, though there IS the requirement to remain proficient with that firearm. Change the system such that when one has served his ACTIVE DUTY time, and goes home to do whatever he does, instead of… Read more »
The EU or EAU or What Ever Kind Of Union , That is Over There ,, Can Stay Over There . We have Our Problems They Have Theirs . We Don’t Need to Follow Their Failures . The First Americans Broke Away as to Not, Be Part of That Crap ! It Don’t Need to Be, Brought over Here to Reintegrate Us with them . Every Country Over There Is In Danger of Being Terrorists from the Inside . They opened Their , Borders to Unknown Enemies Who Will Stop at , Nothing to Destroy Who or What (thought )… Read more »
The New World Order…..They want to be the Elite governing party, Just like Hitler was.
Oh…yes, of course I do. But it doesn’t derive, IMO, from some unprovable “creator” (which is in the Declaration of Independence and wisely left out of the Constitution). My view of the 2nd Amendment however, doesn’t include that. IT’s about the right of a Militia (implicitly meaning a COLLECTIVE entity) to form to prevent what they viewed in the late 18th Century as a “Tyranny”. It was, however, a kind of compromise with the hard Federalists like Hamilton and Madison. Because *their* view of it mean a militia that was *subordinated* the central Federal authorities, specifically the Federal Army (the… Read more »
George Mason ,, who co wrote the constitution, says the militia is the armed citizen
Wrong and wrong headed.
Nonsense. We are talking about the SWISS, I never mentioned the U.S. Contitution’s Bill of Rights. You mentioned the “god” issue, self-defense being hardly a theme of either the Old or New Testaments. Of course adherence to some “Scripture” is the last refuge of scoundrels. Fortunately no mention of god or the Bible was used as a crutch when the quite secular Founders wrote the Constitution. It was 100% about *politics* as it should of been. GOOD.
Actually, we’re just talking about inalienable Rights that we, as human beings have, unless, of course, you disagree and simply believe that Government gives all rights and therefore can rescind these Rights also?
Nonsense. When you brought “Texas not being Switzerland” into the equation, you brought the U.S. & it’s Constitution into the discussion. True, God is not mentioned in the Constitution but the Declaration of Independence is rife with mention of the creator, the supreme orchestrator, the Devine giver of rights that affords us the protection of self we are so adamant in retaining. Although self defense may not be THE theme of the Bible, it certainly is A theme. Since Cain killed Able, men have been seeking to protect themselves, their families, their tribes, their nations…& all with not only the… Read more »
There is much more to this push by the E.U. and the U.N. to ban weapons from everyone. It is a push toward a one world government and one world religion. I know that sounds like “bible thumping” (and I’m not even religious) but it seems to be true and it is happening before our eyes. When the entire world is disarmed, who can stop a one world government from controlling every single deed and thought.???
Amen! I mean…I agree!
I agree, that is what we’re seeing in the USA and now Switzerland (CH). The EU is trying to use the treaty of Schengen Area to threaten CH with travel restrictions if they don’t capitulate to EU’s demands. BS, no EU nation will want NOT to receive trade from Swiss citizens whether business, tourism, or simply heading across the border to buy less expensive goods. CH was very correct and wise to not join the EU a decade or so ago and will be wise again in standing up to EU in this regard. Switzerland needs to stand up (I’m… Read more »
Totally agree. Once all firearms are banned it will be a walk in the park for the blue helmets to take over every country in the world. If you think that won’t happen then I feel bad for you having your head buried in the sand and all.
That’s exactly what’s going to happen.
Anyone trying to take our guns are the enemy of the U.S. They can’t be trusted and should be prosecuted and removed from our country.
They saying in Africa if you see blue helmets run the other way unless yo want to be raped robbed or murdered. UN out of NYC
Those who are unwilling to kill and die to preserve their rights, freedom and property will inevitably and deservedly lose them.
Those who are unwilling to kill and die to preserve their rights, freedoms and property will inevitably and deservedly lose them.
You do now that the Swiss have always had gun control, right? Their weapons are registered and the ammo counted. Restrictions on shooting at ranges and moving around the weapon…still technically owned by the Swiss State…is paramount. Texas Switzerland is not.
Go never gave you the right to own a gun. We gave ourselves the right to do so.
You do KNOW, the Swiss have nothing to do with our Constitution, don’t you? It’s THEIR registration, THEIR ammo being counted, THEIR restrictions at ranges & “moving around the weapon” (personal carry?). What THEY do is up to them. The U.S.A., Switzerland is not. Go(d) may not have given the right specifically naming a TOOL…but He DID give us the unalienable RIGHT to defend ourselves & our families. Yes, WE invented the gun but also the knife, spear, bow & arrow & every other “thing” we use today & in the past, whether it’s for protection or just living. WE…didn’t… Read more »
The EU is a PARA-ONEWORLD Government that dictates to its member Countries many things but GUN OWNERSHIP LAWS cannot be allowed to fall under their umbrella! The U.N. is bad enough if the U.N. had it their way not a single citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA would be allowed to own a gun. This entire ordeal is extremely worrisome. The first thing a Government or a Despotic ruler does is take away all the guns from its citizens, see Hitler 1938. What honestly worries me is how this current timeline of events is almost step by step mirroring… Read more »
@PonyPlayer, There is that word again… “allowed”. I think that you mean: “… not a single citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA would have the Right to own a gun.” I do, however, agree with the other things that you have said.
Reducing our Rights is reducing the limits on government.
“… not a single citizen of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA would have the Right to own a gun.”
Even if total disarmament per DiFi, Pugliugly and the Cllnton She Unit were to manage to “Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in”, we would STILL retain our RIGHT to arms. The right to life itself carries with it the concurrent and inseparable right to whatever means is necessary and/or useful to preserve it. We do NOT derive that right from a piece of old dead sheep packaging with some markings upon it.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it!
My advice to the Swiss People,
Look at the UK, France, Italy and other nations that SURRENDERED their God given RIGHT to DEFEND themselves.
NEVER GIVE UP YOUR WEAPONS.
We, here in America, are now fighting the DemocRATic COMMUNIST/muslem party that wants to remove our RIGHT to self DEFENSE.
We in America who understand this IDIOTIC communist logic will NOT surrender our weapons!!!!!!!!!!
Aim for the blue helmets
Maybe an inch below, less chance for deflection.
First off the Swiss were betrayed by multiculturalism and liberals when islamists there as refugees turned on them and began raping and pillaging and killing the indigenous people. It’s a classic play carried out by Muhammad itself when it was taken in as a refugee by the Jewish. Within five years Muhammad had murdered the majority of his savior’s. Look at the condition of every land that has allowed them entry! Utterly destroyed or in the process of! By disarming the population become sheep and that’s the intentions of tyrants, to take the sheep to slaughter with no risk of… Read more »
If the goal as stated is to prevent terrorism………why don’t they stop flooding europe with military aged males from terrorist countries??????
The stupid never ever stops, and it seems to be getting worse everywhere.
Stupid is forever. Stupid is ignorance that cant be fixed !
What’s even worse is when a ‘foreigner’ becomes President of your country!
https://web.archive.org/web/20040627142700/eastandard.net/headlines/news26060403.htm
This Gets Me !
People from Other Countries , Telling People
From Another Country What They Can & Can’t Do !
And This is What Obama Tried to Do Here !
Stupid ! Stupid ! Stupid ! Stupid ! Stupid !
Historically, one sovereign state forcing another to do something it’s people don’t want often leads to war. I’ve been to Switzerland. You cannot travel through that country without seeing people in military uniforms all over the place. Last I heard, Switzerland had over 18 soldiers per square kilometer. Care to wager who would win a war between Switzerland and the EU?
Zackley… The Swiss have their heads on straight ! You know, like a LAW ABIDING U.S. citizen whether concealed carry, hunting, target, collecting.