Swiss "gun problem" on BBC radio

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That's a fine deal. $80 for a modern military rifle is hard to beat. Too bad that if you want to keep it, you have to get it converted to semi-auto only though.
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No, maybe you misunderstood me.
We pay approx. 80 US$ to the army to do the coverting job to semi-auto. That's it, no other charges at all.

After the converting job, it's a SIG550 rifle, basically. Which sold to civilian by SIG.
That mean you pay 80 US$ (not more) for a high quality sporting rifle.
 
"Could you please tell me exactly what channel you heard this on, what day and what time (in GMT preferably, if not then your time zone and I'll convert). Then name of the person who said it and their position (host? guest?) would also be helpful. I will be writing a letter of complaint. Since I pay their sallaries, they might take notice."

Here in the US, I get an hour of the BBC on National Public Radio:

http://www.npr.org/

The station I listen is 90.9 WBUR, Bostons NPR radio:

http://www.wbur.org/

The BBC hour is on several times per day. Don't recall who on the BBC made the statement, but it was a women. Wish I could be of more help there, but I know the NPR people much better than I know the BBC people.
 
"then you get your assault rifle convert to semi-automatic"

So I take it automatics are a no-no after military service is done?
 
Matt87
For the record, I understand that military-type ammo is heavilly subsidised in Switzerland (so it is dirt cheap) but is supposed to be used-up at he range where you buy it and is not meant to leave the gate. I also understand that just about no-one follows this law and many don't know it exists.
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I believe the ammo bought at the range is not recorded, but anyone can buy ammo in a shop and take it home as long as it is recorded.
Also, I believe reloading is common in Switzerland.
 
I was just listening to the BBC about the “Swiss gun issue” and they stated that (1) the only country with higher suicide rates than the Swiss is the US*
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I finally heard this report yesterday evening. When you listen carefully they said "gun suicide rates." I would be willing to bet there are higher suicide rates in Europe than the Swiss rate - just not by gun. Of course! Most other EU countries are socialist and have taken guns away from citizens. Bet the British are using drugs, rope, swords, etc. to off themselves - and probably at a higher overall rate than the Swiss - I can't prove it though.
 
"I finally heard this report yesterday evening. When you listen carefully they said "gun suicide rates."

My mistake then, thanx for looking into that. Did you also hear the part about how common it was for them using their rifle to kill their entire family?


"I would be willing to bet there are higher suicide rates in Europe than the Swiss rate - just not by gun. Of course! Most other EU countries are socialist and have taken guns away from citizens. Bet the British are using drugs, rope, swords, etc. to off themselves - and probably at a higher overall rate than the Swiss - I can't prove it though."

We already know there are higher total suicide rates in other countries, but remember, many people are under the false impression guns are associated to suicide just as when they report "gun violence." if you keep associating the two, it stands to reason for the average ignorant person, one simply needs to remove the gun to remove the violence, which is why they do it.

One never sees "knife violence" reported as some sort of special crime that needs special attention, yet the knife is the primary weapon in many places and there in a "knife culture" in those places. Here in Boston, we had a women kill her entire familiy with a knife. The knife however was never made the center of attention and no one called for more restriction on knives...

When one wants to scew the data and or the public impressions, one might say "gun crime" has gone down, when total violent crime went up, as has happended in several countries, etc, etc.
 
Not sure if this should have been a new thread, but the BBC was at it again, this time regarding the UK. This time I made sure to note the time, etc. It was the 9am show EST on the station I listen to (WBUR 90.9) and the story was the top of the hour show and the newsperson was a Carol Olberson (spell?).

I guess a boy was shot while playing soccer and it’s outraged people in the UK, and rightly so. They spoke at length about how strict the gun laws were in the UK and how it was now easier than ever to obtain a gun, which they said were coming in from northern Ireland, and various European countries. In a single sentence, she mentions the use of knives has also gone up, but the total focus was on guns, and no one seemed to make any connection between the fact that attempts at gun control did not = reduced crime rates or crimes with guns in the UK.

Most interesting and telling to me, Carol used a term I have never heard before, which was “gun attacks.” Not “gun violence” but “gun attack” like “shark attack.” This totally removes the person using the gun ad puts total and complete attention on the gun as if it had two legs and a brain….

The good news were the guests (I forget their names) who staunchly and correctly stated the issue was not gun availability per se, but a change in culture, lack of support and role models for young, people, socio economic issues, family support, etc, etc.

However, no one put 2 + 2 together to say anything to the affect that if guns are easier to get than ever after extensive attempts at gun control, and the only people who have restricted access to guns are the law abiding people of the UK – who are being terrorized by gangs in some areas – was not such a great idea after all or an effective means of reducing crime.

Anyone else hear this program? Gun attacks, now that’s a new one!
 
Any more details on the semi-auto conversion -- e.g., since when has this been required, do you go back to full-auto during wartime, etc.?

As for Swiss army knives, I wouldn't mind having one of these:

16999E.jpg
 
If an entire family of a Swiss citizen is killed once a month, how is it that anyone is still left alive there? The population isn't that big...
 
I finally heard this report yesterday evening. When you listen carefully they said "gun suicide rates." I would be willing to bet there are higher suicide rates in Europe than the Swiss rate - just not by gun. Of course! Most other EU countries are socialist and have taken guns away from citizens. Bet the British are using drugs, rope, swords, etc. to off themselves - and probably at a higher overall rate than the Swiss - I can't prove it though.
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Not sure about Europe, but Japan has more non-gun suicides than all gun related deaths from all causes in the entire United States in the recent years that data is available.
I think all gun related deaths in the US (suicide, accidental, murder, non-negligent homiced and justifiable homicide) was around about 30,000 and in Japan suicides averages over 30,000.
Japan has a much smaller population, so their suicide rate is many times higher than our overall suicide rate too.

In 2004 the UK the suicide rate is 18.3 per 100,000 http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_health/Corrected_suicide_data_22Feb07.xls#'fig 2'!A1
In 2004 the US it is 10.9 per 100,000 http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/harmsway.cfm
In 2004 the Switzerland suicide rate is 17.4 per 100,000 http://www.who.int/mental_health/media/swit.pdf

England needs to care of their own house before they can be critical of others.
 
I believe the ammo bought at the range is not recorded, but anyone can buy ammo in a shop and take it home as long as it is recorded.
Also, I believe reloading is common in Switzerland.
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It's depends on Range officer. But you should use your ammo up or give it to back.
It exist a law about purchase military ammo at public range. But not everyone know it.
Not every one can buy ammo in a gun shop! You need a Personal ID and a copy of crime record without negative entry or a kopie of gun license. If you've those document and this gun shop registered your as legal buyer, you can buy as much ammo as you want.

Any more details on the semi-auto conversion -- e.g., since when has this been required, do you go back to full-auto during wartime, etc.?
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One internal part will removed and the army gun smith cut a hook off and put a "P"mark for "Private" after this work, this rifle goes as private property to the ex-serviceman over.
No burst fire or full auto, only semi-auto after this job. You'll find this "P" marking on every ex-swiss army weapon. If you got a Swiss K-31, check it you'll find this P marking.


This rifle will nomore re-activated as assault rifle even in case of war. Because we get the rifle convert to semi-auto if the service time is really over. And after service time you are civilian. In case of mobilization, a retired soldier will not fight again.
 
I too like the BBC; many of their past historical, natural history, science and geographical productions etc have been second to none. On the subject of citizens possessing firearms their political change and propaganda role is usually blatantly obvious.

willbrink
My understanding is 50 rnds, as goofy as that sounds
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Every armed swiss hitting even half of their targets with 50 rounds could take care of more than a few invading armies.

---------------------------------------

http://searchronpaul.com
http://ussliberty.org
http://ssunitedstates.org
 
I'm very frustrated, because my english is very bad and my hand can't follow that my mind says when I read this. BBC it's just exactly like all other medias !

Good evening from Switzerland.
 
Thanks for the information, col_tapiocca. Is it still true that every Swiss house and business has to have a basement bomb shelter?
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Yes, it true! Every older Swiss building has got a basement bomb shelter.
My house has a shelter with filter system.

I think since 90's new building must not build a basement bomb shelter. But the building owner has to pay for the local government.
So in case of need every Swiss resident has a place in a shelter.

Swiss Army still stock fuel and tinned food. :confused:
 
at least once per month on average a Swiss citizen takes his army issued assault rifles and kills his entire family.
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This is true but he is getting very tired and his family has become irritated at him. We have every expectation that he will slow down. All he wants is the attention he gets from the news media anyway, so if you pay him no attention he will quit entirely and return to his earlier hobby of flogging a dead horse.
 
I hope think will not change to bad
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I'm not familiar with the Swiss political system, but you speak like there is nothing you can do to help your cause. Isn't there is a policital group in your country that can bring forth statistics showing the lies of the opposition?

I'm very frustrated, because my english is very bad and my hand can't follow that my mind says when I read this. BBC it's just exactly like all other medias ! Good evening from Switzerland.
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Your doing just fine. Sometimes a simple nod is all that is required for effective communication.
 
Quote:
I believe the ammo bought at the range is not recorded, but anyone can buy ammo in a shop and take it home as long as it is recorded.
Also, I believe reloading is common in Switzerland.

It's depends on Range officer. But you should use your ammo up or give it to back.
It exist a law about purchase military ammo at public range. But not everyone know it.
Not every one can buy ammo in a gun shop! You need a Personal ID and a copy of crime record without negative entry or a kopie of gun license. If you've those document and this gun shop registered your as legal buyer, you can buy as much ammo as you want.


Quote:
Any more details on the semi-auto conversion -- e.g., since when has this been required, do you go back to full-auto during wartime, etc.?

One internal part will removed and the army gun smith cut a hook off and put a "P"mark for "Private" after this work, this rifle goes as private property to the ex-serviceman over.
No burst fire or full auto, only semi-auto after this job. You'll find this "P" marking on every ex-swiss army weapon. If you got a Swiss K-31, check it you'll find this P marking.


This rifle will nomore re-activated as assault rifle even in case of war. Because we get the rifle convert to semi-auto if the service time is really over. And after service time you are civilian. In case of mobilization, a retired soldier will not fight again.
__________________
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Thats a good deal for a rifle of that quality. I have several K-31's and no P marking. My 1911 Schmidt-Rubin does.

I'd be willing to bet in the unlikely case of an invasion, alot of those "retired" soldiers would show up with those semi auto rifles. The could still be a force to be considered!
 
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