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Switzerland allows you to own a gun, but (generally) not to bear it. Huge difference.

bryanrasmussen 2y ago
America also has laws against taking guns into theaters and indiscriminately shooting people, once you have easy access to guns the gun becomes a potential solution to problems. Maybe Switzerland just has less problems where that potential solution appeals to people.
- input_sh 2y ago
  I'd say that the key difference is that Switzerland has compulsory military service in which you're taught how to operate a weapon properly. Therefore, everyone that has one has gone through months of training. Vs the US, where there are loopholes that you can use to avoid even a basic background check, and then use it for the very first time to shoot someone.
  - thfuran 2y ago
    Training seems likely to cut down on accidental shootings, but not so much on the deliberate ones.
    - underdeserver 2y ago
      I disagree. First of all, people with issues are more likely to be found out in boot camp. Second, you learn a certain respect for the firearm and are expected to observe strict safety rules when handling it. That gives you a kind of psychological flinch when you consider doing anything out of the norm with it.
    - ambicapter 2y ago
      It seems like tons of toddler are accidentally firing guns as well in America, so training probably won't help there.
      - thfuran 2y ago
        Training people to lock up their damn guns would.
  - tharkun__ 2y ago
    That doesn't seem to make sense. All that would do is to make sure that a nut job knows how to properly shoot the gun. Basically what you are saying is "a Swiss wouldn't have missed Trump". The difference might be in what guns mean to Swiss people vs. the US. A gun in the US has this "if the government becomes destructive of these ends we can start shooting" connotation. A gun is there for self defense. Someone doesn't get off your law, you use your gun. In Switzerland the gun and the compulsory military service you mention is there for the people to protect their country and fellow countrymen. You are trained in defending your neighbor, who just stepped on your lawn against outside aggressors.
  - holoduke 2y ago
    Biggest difference is that you have only rich people in Switzerland. Almost no crime and hardly any immigration issues.
    - latexr 2y ago
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Switzerland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Switzerland

America also has laws against taking guns into theaters and indiscriminately shooting people, once you have easy access to guns the gun becomes a potential solution to problems. Maybe Switzerland just has less problems where that potential solution appeals to people.

input_sh 2y ago
I'd say that the key difference is that Switzerland has compulsory military service in which you're taught how to operate a weapon properly. Therefore, everyone that has one has gone through months of training. Vs the US, where there are loopholes that you can use to avoid even a basic background check, and then use it for the very first time to shoot someone.
- thfuran 2y ago
  Training seems likely to cut down on accidental shootings, but not so much on the deliberate ones.
  - underdeserver 2y ago
    I disagree. First of all, people with issues are more likely to be found out in boot camp. Second, you learn a certain respect for the firearm and are expected to observe strict safety rules when handling it. That gives you a kind of psychological flinch when you consider doing anything out of the norm with it.
  - ambicapter 2y ago
    It seems like tons of toddler are accidentally firing guns as well in America, so training probably won't help there.
    - thfuran 2y ago
      Training people to lock up their damn guns would.
- tharkun__ 2y ago
  That doesn't seem to make sense. All that would do is to make sure that a nut job knows how to properly shoot the gun. Basically what you are saying is "a Swiss wouldn't have missed Trump". The difference might be in what guns mean to Swiss people vs. the US. A gun in the US has this "if the government becomes destructive of these ends we can start shooting" connotation. A gun is there for self defense. Someone doesn't get off your law, you use your gun. In Switzerland the gun and the compulsory military service you mention is there for the people to protect their country and fellow countrymen. You are trained in defending your neighbor, who just stepped on your lawn against outside aggressors.
- holoduke 2y ago
  Biggest difference is that you have only rich people in Switzerland. Almost no crime and hardly any immigration issues.
  - latexr 2y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Switzerland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Switzerland