Pages

Monday

Why Switzerland Has The Lowest Crime Rate In The World

The key to freedom is to be able to have the ability to defend yourself & if you do not have the tools to do that, then you're going to be at the mercy of whomever wants to put you away.

Guns are deeply rooted within Swiss culture - but the gun crime rate is so low that statistics are not even kept.

The country has a population of six million, but there are estimated to be at least two million publicly-owned firearms, including about 600,000 automatic rifles and 500,000 pistols.

This is in a very large part due to Switzerland's unique system of national defense, developed over the centuries.




Instead of a standing, full-time army, the country requires every man to undergo some form of military training for a few days or weeks a year throughout most of their lives.

Between the ages of 21 and 32 men serve as front line troops. They are given an Sig SG-550 assault rifle and 240 rounds of ammunition which they are required to keep at home.

Once discharged, men serve in the Swiss equivalent of the US National Guard, but still have to train occasionally and are given bolt rifles. Women do not have to own firearms, but are encouraged to.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hmm... Being forced into the military, or put up reasonable security measures in your home? I'll take the latter, thank you very much. Furthermore, there are WAY more variables in relation to crime rate to consider than just a country's gun habits. Out of context article is out of context.

Liberty4Ever said...

This information is essentially true, but outdated. The Swiss do have a great tradition of firearms ownership, and their emphasis on a well trained citizen defense force has resulted in them escaping the history of war and violence that has repeatedly swept much of the rest of Europe. Not having a large standing army prevents political leaders from engaging in foreign conquest, and who wants to attack a nation of trained snipers who would be fighting on their familiar home turf, with the full support of their countrymen, defending their homes and their families? It's the very definition of suicide.

A humble foreign policy provides no justification for the governments of other nations to attack the Swiss. How would they motivate their citizens to fight such a war against such a peaceful people? "Their Swiss chocolate is bad for us! Their trains are too punctual! Their ball bearings are better than ours! Let's attack Switzerland!" That sounds even crazier than, "They hate us because we're prosperous and free!"

I do believe the lack of wars caused by an emphasis on defense instead of an offensive army has fostered a peaceful and prosperous nation where violent crime is rare.

However, there have been a couple of examples of mental illness where government issued rifles stored at home were used in rare but high profile shootings, and those very rare incidents were all the anti-gun crowd needed. The Swiss were told that gun violence is inevitable when guns are readily available, no other civilized country has an armed civilian defense force, etc. Now, the rifles and ammo are no longer issued to the Swiss to keep at home. They're locked away in armories spread all across the country, and the firearms tradition that has served the Swiss so well for centuries is in decay.

Sadly, as crime rates inevitably increase when the people are disarmed, the anti-gun nuts will use that as a pretext to further their anti-gun agenda until the country is disarmed and only criminals have guns.

It's happening in Switzerland, just as it's happening in the US. It's already happened in the UK and Australia. Sadly, facts have little to do with this public debate. It's all about emotion. Guns are bad. They hurt people.

Not nearly as much as being a disarmed innocent victim. Government doing that to its citizens is immoral.

Paulo Ventura said...

_ É bem verdade que a Suiça detém essa estatística e sua população merece justa homenágem por isso. Aqui no brasil estamos caminhando noutra direção; benificia-se os bandidos em detrimento dos cidadãos de bem e a tendência é só piorar... "temos agora até uma assaltante de banco e terrorista como presidente da república". Por enquanto ainda somos maioria; mas em breve... não sei não!!! QUE VERGONHA!!!

Unknown said...

Gun control has failed here in America. People here are waking up to the fact that gun control is un American.

Unknown said...

Alaska has the lowest crime rate in the united states. Our very loose gun laws ensure that. We are aloud to have a concealed handgun on us at all times (except hospitals, banks, etc). You try to steal my car I shoot you. When the cops get there I tell them what happened and I do not go to jail. Same goes for my house. You come into my house in the middle of the night looking to steal, murder, or rape and you will meet several heavily armed young men. I'm all for what the swiss' policy on guns is

Robert Long said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Suzy Thompson said...

Switzerland is a really beautiful country with lovely people and the economy is good. The fact that it has such a low crime rate adds to its tourism for sure. I'd definitely want to work there someday or even settle down.

juandos said...

Well having been to Switzerland a number of times between '78 and '02 there is one over riding fact that is inescapable IMHO: NO ghettos and the alway present felonious ghetto denizen...

Anonymous said...

Israel does compulsory service as well. How does that affect their statistics?