Switzerland Demands International Registration and Licensing of Firearms

July 12, 2001, 07:41 PM

From Neal Knox
www.nealknox.com/alerts/msg00035.html

Significantly, and sadly, Switzerland has reversed its gun policies, taking a leadership role at the U.N. conference (though they're not a member of the U.N.) in demanding international registration and licensing of all firearms. That reflects the passage of a constitutional amendment a decade ago which virtually repealed the nation's Second Amendment equivalent.

Just ten years earlier the Swiss people had rejected an attempt to repeal their keep and bear arms provision -- which had kept their people armed to the teeth, allowing them to avoid foreign wars for four hundred years.

Today, when a Swiss militiaman reaches retirement age of 55 he cannot keep the full automatic version of the real assault weapon he has kept in his peaceful home for over 30 years.

Good friend and Oxford man Richard Munday detailed how the Swiss gave up most of their gun rights in a fascinating -- and frightening -- book written a half-dozen years ago. The title comes from Italian political scientist Niccolo Machiavelli's 16th Century statement about Switzerland: "Most Armed, Most Free."

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AmericaFirst · July 12, 2001, 09:58 PM

"It is important that the conference be inclusive, and that we remember this problem is a long-term process," said Raimund Kunz, who heads the Swiss delegation.

as quoted in THE WASHINGTON TIMES 7/11/01

More than 550 million small weapons circulate around the world and cause 500,000 deaths a year. Their production ranges wider each year. And they are easier to obtain than ever. These are indices of a problem spreading rapidly beyond control.
Small arms mainly imperil civilians. Only if we stop excessive accumulation of and easy access to arms can we better safeguard human security. Ministers of the Human Security Network have discussed this problem at meetings in Switzerland and Jordan.

Switzerland attaches great importance to solutions. Like other nations and NGOs, it has held seminars and contributed to deeper knowledge on topics like tracing and marking arms, global criteria for exports, and management and security of arms stocks.

Switzerland and France have launched a joint initiative which suggests creating an international instrument in the area of tracing and marking of small arms. Publication of the Small Arms Survey in Geneva has given us a tool to improve transparency in the small arms sector.

A Plague of Small Arms Demands Action at Last by Joseph Deiss, the Swiss foreign minister, July 3rd op-ed piece, The International Herald Tribune

**4V50 Gary** · July 13, 2001, 03:42 AM

Sure Switzerland. Please send me one of your new full auto rifles, plenty of (normal 30 round capacity) magazines and I'll be more than happy to register it. While you're busy packaging it, how about lining the shipping crate with plenty of your ammo too?

July 13, 2001, 03:50 AM

Just when I thought there was still a free nation on the globe.

Hal · July 13, 2001, 04:44 AM

B4 we all go nuts on this can we wait to hear from TFL's own Mussi? I think he's in a better position to give us more of the story than what's being filtered down to us.

papercut · July 15, 2001, 08:42 AM

I have to agree with RAE here. Let's see if mussi has time to comment, and maybe he can fill us in on some of the details from the mountaintops.

Liberty Ship · July 16, 2001, 10:14 PM

Sad, but not surprising. In their defense, the UN wanted to hold the small arms summit in Switzerland, but they declined. That gave me hope. But I was wrong.

Remember this, at the moment the USA is the ONLY country in the world that recognizes the right of the INDIVIDUAL to keep and bear arms. In the case of Switzerland and Israel the "right" is really more of a duty to the state and the privilege is extended to the people in the context of their role of defending the state's interests.

While it is understood among us that the possession of arms is a universal human right, ONLY the United States -- and only about half of our states -- acknowledge that.

July 12, 2001, 07:41 PM	#1
annie Guest Posts: n/a	Switzerland Demands International Registration and Licensing of Firearms From Neal Knox www.nealknox.com/alerts/msg00035.html Significantly, and sadly, Switzerland has reversed its gun policies, taking a leadership role at the U.N. conference (though they're not a member of the U.N.) in demanding international registration and licensing of all firearms. That reflects the passage of a constitutional amendment a decade ago which virtually repealed the nation's Second Amendment equivalent. Just ten years earlier the Swiss people had rejected an attempt to repeal their keep and bear arms provision -- which had kept their people armed to the teeth, allowing them to avoid foreign wars for four hundred years. Today, when a Swiss militiaman reaches retirement age of 55 he cannot keep the full automatic version of the real assault weapon he has kept in his peaceful home for over 30 years. Good friend and Oxford man Richard Munday detailed how the Swiss gave up most of their gun rights in a fascinating -- and frightening -- book written a half-dozen years ago. The title comes from Italian political scientist Niccolo Machiavelli's 16th Century statement about Switzerland: "Most Armed, Most Free." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 12, 2001, 09:58 PM	#2
AmericaFirst Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2001 Location: USA Posts: 257	"It is important that the conference be inclusive, and that we remember this problem is a long-term process," said Raimund Kunz, who heads the Swiss delegation. as quoted in THE WASHINGTON TIMES 7/11/01 More than 550 million small weapons circulate around the world and cause 500,000 deaths a year. Their production ranges wider each year. And they are easier to obtain than ever. These are indices of a problem spreading rapidly beyond control. Small arms mainly imperil civilians. Only if we stop excessive accumulation of and easy access to arms can we better safeguard human security. Ministers of the Human Security Network have discussed this problem at meetings in Switzerland and Jordan. Switzerland attaches great importance to solutions. Like other nations and NGOs, it has held seminars and contributed to deeper knowledge on topics like tracing and marking arms, global criteria for exports, and management and security of arms stocks. Switzerland and France have launched a joint initiative which suggests creating an international instrument in the area of tracing and marking of small arms. Publication of the Small Arms Survey in Geneva has given us a tool to improve transparency in the small arms sector. A Plague of Small Arms Demands Action at Last by Joseph Deiss, the Swiss foreign minister, July 3rd op-ed piece, The International Herald Tribune __________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." - The Dalai Lama (May 15, 2001, The Seattle Times)

July 13, 2001, 03:42 AM	#3
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,850	Sure Switzerland. Please send me one of your new full auto rifles, plenty of (normal 30 round capacity) magazines and I'll be more than happy to register it. While you're busy packaging it, how about lining the shipping crate with plenty of your ammo too? __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

July 15, 2001, 08:42 AM	#6
papercut Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2000 Location: Cobb County, Georgia, USA, near the Big Chicken Posts: 922	I have to agree with RAE here. Let's see if mussi has time to comment, and maybe he can fill us in on some of the details from the mountaintops. __________________ Sins can be forgiven, ills can be cured, but stupidity is forever.

July 13, 2001, 03:50 AM	#4
PreserveFreedom Guest Posts: n/a	Just when I thought there was still a free nation on the globe.

July 13, 2001, 04:44 AM	#5
Hal Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 1998 Location: Ohio USA Posts: 8,563	B4 we all go nuts on this can we wait to hear from TFL's own Mussi? I think he's in a better position to give us more of the story than what's being filtered down to us.

July 16, 2001, 10:14 PM	#7
Liberty Ship Member Join Date: March 15, 2001 Posts: 53	Sad, but not surprising. In their defense, the UN wanted to hold the small arms summit in Switzerland, but they declined. That gave me hope. But I was wrong. Remember this, at the moment the USA is the ONLY country in the world that recognizes the right of the INDIVIDUAL to keep and bear arms. In the case of Switzerland and Israel the "right" is really more of a duty to the state and the privilege is extended to the people in the context of their role of defending the state's interests. While it is understood among us that the possession of arms is a universal human right, ONLY the United States -- and only about half of our states -- acknowledge that.