May be questioning their involvement in the EU over their fondness of firearms ownership.
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.
Get used to it Fritz. Your fellow Europeans don’t care how you feel about being labeled as “Dangerous� and “A Criminal� because of your love of firearms.
But you can take heart in the fact that we can never have enough firearms loving people here in the US and you are welcome to join us. Just remember to bring your guns with you, please.
Found at Ravenwood’s Universe
“…you are welcome to join us.”
Add to that, “and bring a few more of those fine Schmidt-Rubin antiques of your over as a token of friendship.”
Now if we can get the Supreme Court to use the Constitution first, then they would have to agree with the Swiss on any gun laws. Insteed of the stooge UN or Eu for basing their decisions