Firearms regulation in Switzerland

Switzerland has a relatively high gun ownership rate. There are no official statistics, and estimates vary considerably. The 2017 report from Small Arms Survey has estimated that the number of civilian-held firearms in Switzerland is 2,332,000, which given a population of 8.4 million, corresponds to a gun ownership of around 27.6 guns per 100 residents. Other estimates place the number of privately held firearms upwards to a high total of 4,500,000, giving the nation an estimate of 54.5 guns per 100 people in 2017. The International Crime Victims Survey conducted in 2004-05 reported that approximately 28.6% of all households in Switzerland owned firearms and 10.3% owned handguns, giving Switzerland the second-highest percentage of firearm ownership in Europe. A recent study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences released in 2023 revealed that the most commonly owned guns are handguns (caliber>.22lr) (85%) with semi-automatic rifles in close second (76%). When Switzerland joined the Schengen Information System in 2008, it was forced to introduce a registry for firearms, though only those that changed hands since are registered, and no central registry was created. However, multiple proposals have been submitted over the years and most recently, a proposal by Green Party Marionna Schlatter to introduce a central registry was rejected by the Parliament on the 5th of March 2024. Consequently, each canton is still responsible for its registry. The number of registered firearms in those databases was reported as 876,000 as of August 2017 which given a population of 8.4 million corresponds to around 10.3 registered guns per 100 residents. ==Regulation==

Switzerland's Weapons Law (WG, LArm) The law is applied to the following weapons: • Firearms, such as pistols, revolvers, rifles, pump guns (), lever-action rifles, self-loading guns (shotguns and rifles). • Air and guns with a muzzle energy of at least 7.5 joules, or if there is risk of confusion with a firearm. • Imitation, blank firing guns () and air-soft guns when there is risk of confusion with a firearm. • Butterfly knives, throwing knives, switchblade or automatic knives with total length greater than 12 cm and blade length greater than 5 cm. • Daggers with a symmetrical blade less than 30 cm. • Devices that are intended to hurt people such as batons (), throwing star, brass knuckles, slings with armrest. • Electric shock devices and spray products with irritants in Annex 2 weapons ordinance (WV/OArm), except for pepper spray. Generally prohibited weapons are: • Automatic firearms and military launching devices for ammunition, for projectiles or for missiles that have an explosive effect, and their essential or specially designed components. • Automatic firearms modified to semi-automatic firearms, and their essential components; the foregoing does not apply to Swiss army firearms the ownership of which is acquired by the holder directly from the military authorities, and to components essential for maintaining the functionality of such weapons • the following semi-automatic centrefire weapons: • Handguns equipped with a high-capacity loading device • Shoulderable firearms equipped with a high-capacity loading device • Semi-automatic shoulderable firearms that may be shortened by means of a folding or telescopic shaft or without auxiliary means to a length of less than 60 cm, without losing any functionality • Firearms that resemble an article of everyday use and their essential components; • Grenade launchers in accordance with Article 4 paragraph 2 letter c • Laser devices, night-vision devices, silencers and grenade launchers as an addition to a firearm. • Automatic knives with a blade of more than 5 cm and a total length of more than 12 cm. • Butterfly knives with a blade of more than 5 cm and a total length of more than 12 cm. • Throwing knives; regardless of the shape and size. • Symmetrical daggers where blade length is less than 30 cm. • Brass knuckles. • Shock rods or stun guns. • Throwing stars. • Buttstock-equipped slingshots (). • Tasers. • Hidden firearms that imitate an object of utility, such as shooting phones. Acquisition Buying guns In order to purchase most weapons, the purchaser must obtain a weapon acquisition permit (art. 8 WG/LArm). Swiss citizens and foreigners with a C permit over the age of 18 who are not under a curator nor identified as being a danger for themselves or others, and who do not have a criminal record with a conviction for a violent crime or of several convictions as long as they haven't been written out can request such a permit. Foreign nationals who do not have a settlement permit but who are resident in Switzerland must present the competent cantonal authority with an official attestation from their home country confirming they are authorised to acquire the weapon or essential weapon component in that country in order to buy (art. 9a WG/LArm). Foreigners with sole citizenship to the following countries are explicitly excluded from the right to buy, sell and own weapons and their parts unless they ask for an exceptional authorization to the state: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Algeria and Albania. (art. 15 WG/LArm). Foreigners with sole citizenship to the following countries are explicitly excluded from the right to buy and own ammunition: Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Algeria and Albania. ==Army-issued arms and ammunition collection==

assault rifle used to be issued 50 rounds of ammunition in a sealed can, to be opened only upon alert and for use while en route to join their unit. This practice was stopped in 2007. This however does not apply towards private ownership of ammunition. The Swiss army has long been a militia trained and structured to rapidly respond against foreign aggression. Swiss males grow up expecting to undergo basic military training, usually at age 20 in the recruit school, the basic-training camp, after which Swiss men remain part of the "militia" in reserve capacity usually until age 30 (age 34 for officers). Before 2007, members of the Swiss Militia were supplied with 50 rounds of ammunition for their military weapon in a sealed ammo box which was audited by the army during repetition courses (Pocket ammunition). This was so that, in the case of an emergency, the militia could respond quickly. In December 2007, the Swiss Federal Council decided that the distribution of ammunition to soldiers would stop and that previously issued ammo would be returned. By March 2011, more than 99% of the ammo has been received. Only 2,000 specialist militia members (who protect airports and other sites of particular sensitivity) are permitted to keep their military-issued ammunition at home. The rest of the militia get their ammunition from their military armoury in the event of an emergency. This followed the murder of Swiss ski champion Corinne Rey-Bellet by her husband, who used his military issued weapon in the killing. When their period of service has ended, militiamen have the choice of buying their personal Stgw 90 after it has been converted to semi-automatic and keeping other selected items of their equipment. However, keeping the firearms after the end of service requires a weapon acquisition permit and in the case of the rifle to have participated in four federal exercises (repetition shootings (obligatorische Programm) and Feldschiessen) in the last three years of service (art. 29 & 30 VPAA/OEPM). ==Gun culture in Switzerland==

Switzerland has a strong gun culture compared to other countries in the world. Recreational shooting is widespread in Switzerland. Practice with guns is a popular form of recreation, and is encouraged by the government, particularly for the members of the militia. schützenfest Additionally, the Schweizerischer Schützenverein, a Swiss shooting association, organizes the Eidgenössische Schützenfeste, every five years and the Eidgenössisches Feldschiessen is held annually. Every person with Swiss citizenship, aged 10 years or older, can take part at any federal ranges and will be able to shoot for free with the ordinance rifle. Before the turn of the century, about 200,000 people used to attend the annual Eidgenössisches Feldschiessen, which is the largest rifle shooting competition in the world. In 2012 they counted 130,000 participants. For the 2015 Federal Shooting (Eidg. Schützenfest) 37,000 shooters are registered. In addition, there are several private shooting ranges which rent guns and groups like ProTell lobby for the preservation of Switzerland's gun rights. Another possibility for children to shoot is the Young Shooters: the SAT (lit. shooting and off-duty activities) funds lessons in which Swiss children can learn how to shoot using the SIG SG 550 starting at 15 years old for the regular course, but as young as 10. This activity is free and the Young Shooters are able to take home the rifle in-between the lessons if they are 17. For security reasons, however, the bolt carrier group has to stay at the range in which they attend the lesson. This course takes place over 6 years within a 3-4-month period each year and, if they want, they can then become instructors for the new generation of Young Shooters. While minors can't acquire firearms, they can be lent firearms by their shooting club or their legal representative. The firearm is then registered to their name for the duration of the lending and they can then transport and use it alone. The army also sponsors Swiss shooters through free unlimited loans of either the SIG SG 550 and/or P220 provided they participated in four federal exercises (repetition shootings (obligatorische Programm) and Feldschiessen) in the last three years before asking and can show every 3 years that they still participate. It is worth noting that the rifle, while being select-fire, only requires a regular acquisition permit (art. 45 to 47 Schiessverordnung des VBS/Ordonnance du DDPS sur le tir). In 2016, Swiss Olympic conducted a study on clubs and members in Switzerland: the Swiss Sport Shooting Federation is ranked second in terms of clubs (2,943) and fifth in terms of members (131,325). However the study conducted in 2020 showed the Swiss Sport Shooting Federation was ranked down to ninth position in terms of members despite an increase in licensees (135'997) but still remains at the second position in terms of clubs (2'569) despite a loss of about 400. Those affiliated with the Federation are shooters needing a license in order to compete, those that don't need one will probably not be members as it is not needed. There are around 30,000 licensed hunters in Switzerland, a number which has remained consistent since the year 2000. The only canton to have forbidden hunting is Geneva, having done so in 1974 after a popular initiative was launched which was accepted by 70% of voters. Since then, Geneva employs between 10 and 15 gamekeepers to control its game population. ==EU firearm ban==

{{Main|European Firearms Directive Traditionally liberal Swiss gun legislation has, however, been somewhat tightened in 2008, when Switzerland complied with European Firearms Directive to enter Schengen. Throughout the modern political history of Switzerland, there have been advocates for tighter gun control. A 2017 amendment to the European Firearms Directive, known as the "EU Gun Ban", introduces new restrictions on firearms possession and acquisition, especially on semi-automatic firearms, personal defense weapons, magazine capacity, blank firing guns and historical firearms. The restrictions must be introduced into the Swiss legal system by August 2018 due to its membership in the Schengen Area. The Directive also includes an exemption covering a specific Swiss issue – it allows possession to a target shooter of one firearm used during the mandatory military period after leaving the army, provided it was converted to semi-automatic only (art. 6(6) of the Amendment Directive). This part of the Directive specifically was however challenged by the Czech Republic before the European Court of Justice due to its discriminatory nature. The Czech Republic seeks nullification of the "Swiss exemption" as well as of other parts of the Directive. Civil rights organizations planned to hold a referendum to reject the amended EU directive. According to Swiss People's Party vice-president Christoph Blocher, Switzerland should consider abandoning EU's borderless Schengen Area if the Swiss people reject the proposed measures in a referendum. In a referendum held on 19 May 2019, voters supported the stricter EU restrictions on semi-automatic weapons, as recommended by the government. ==Firearm-related deaths==

The vast majority of firearm-related deaths in Switzerland are suicides. For the period of 2013-2023, firearms accounted for 18.8% of suicides (with significant gender imbalance: 24.6% of male suicides vs. 3.1% of female suicides). By contrast, gun crime is comparatively limited. In 2016, there were 187 attempted and 45 completed homicides, for a homicide rate of 0.50 per 100,000 population, giving Switzerland one of the lowest homicide rates in the world. Of the recorded homicides (attempted or completed), 20.3% were committed with a gun (47 cases, compared to an average of 41 cases in the period of 2009–2015). In addition, there were 7 cases of bodily harm and 233 cases of robbery committed with firearms. There were 16 completed homicides with a firearm in 2016. Of these, 14 were committed with a handgun, one with a long gun and one case marked "other/unspecified". None of the involved weapons were ordinance weapons issued by the Swiss Armed Forces. Similarly, out of 31 attempted homicides with firearms, 25 were committed with handguns, two with long guns and four "other/unspecified", with no use of ordinance weapons on record. For the period of 2009–2016, on average 16.5 out of 49.4 completed homicides were committed with a firearm, 13.8 with handguns, 1.9 with long guns and 0.9 "other/unspecified"; an average 0.75 cases per year (6 cases in eight years) involved ordinance weapons. For the following years, the Federal Statistical Office did not go into the details of firearm use so there are no information on the type of gun used. In 2024, there were 233 attempted and 45 completed homicides, for a homicide rate of 0.50 per 100,000 population. Of the recorded homicides (attempted or completed), 9.3% were committed with a gun (26 cases, compared to an average of 28 cases in the period of 2016–2023), of which 10 were completed which corresponds to a gun homicide rate of 0.11 per 100,000 population. In addition, there were 1 case of bodily harm (0.1% of total bodily harm) and 108 cases of robbery committed with firearms (5.1% of total robberies). ==See also==

Notes References ==External links==