Swiss voters will deliver their verdict on whether Switzerland should adopt European Union laws on gun ownership. Two newspapers on Sunday said a proposal opposing changes to legislation had achieved enough backing to force a vote.
The NZZ am Sonntag and SonntagsBlick newspapers both said several well-placed sources had confirmed that the required 50,000 signatures had been secured. The referendum backers said they would not confirm the reports before the deadline for handing in the initiative on January 17.
The EU tightened weapons legislation following the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015. The aim is to improve the exchange of information among member states on gun ownership, curb the illegal arms trade and restrict access to particularly dangerous weapons. Switzerland, as a signatory to the Schengen treaty on free movement, is expected to implement the changes by the end of May 2019
The EU directive aims to make access more difficult to arms that can cause a large number of deaths, such as some semi-automatic weapons. Switzerland is not an EU member, but must also reform its legislation or risk its Schengen membership.
The Swiss government has nevertheless obtained some concessions. With regard to arms for military service, they may still be kept at home after service has ended, and they may be used for sports. Twenty-shot guns will not be prohibited.
However, this was not enough for some people in Switzerland who appear to have forced a national vote on the issue. According to NZZ am Sonntag research, there are an estimated 2.5 million to three million firearms in Switzerland, representing a gun for every third Swiss inhabitant.
More
More
Compromise on EU weapons regulations wins approval
This content was published on
Parliament amends the Swiss gun law in line with EU regulations. But opponents want to challenge the reform to a nationwide vote.
Is reforming the Swiss pension system still possible, and if so, how?
Solutions still need to be found to meet the challenge of an ageing population and to improve the pensions of low-paid workers, the majority of whom are women.
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Swiss survey shows majority want new nuclear power plants
This content was published on
More than half the Swiss population supports the government's plan to lift a ban on the construction of new nuclear power plants.
This content was published on
The majority of high level decisions in Swiss companies remains in the hands of men, says the latest Gender Intelligence Report.
Swiss canton wants to test collection of electronic signatures for initiatives
This content was published on
St Gallen wants to become the first Swiss canton to use electronic signatures (e-collecting) for referendums or initiatives.
Swiss government launches attempt to secure 2038 Winter Olympics
This content was published on
After failing to host the Winter Olympics in 2030 and 2034, Switzerland is trying again - this time for the 2038 Winter Games.
Study highlights Swiss cantons’ failings over adoptions from India
This content was published on
A Swiss study released on Friday has revealed that cantons Thurgau and Zurich are responsible for shortcomings linked to adoptions of children from India.
Glacier melt causes changes to Swiss-Italian border
This content was published on
Switzerland has adapted its borders with Italy and France. The changes with Italy are linked to melting glaciers, while those with France concern a tram line and rivers in the Geneva region.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
How do the Swiss deal with firearms? Your questions, answered
This content was published on
Amid US gun law debates, we answer your questions about guns in Switzerland, including why a place thought to have so many has few mass shootings.
Membership of gun lobby soars amid arms law debate
This content was published on
Between June 2017 and April 2018, the number of members rose from around 8,700 to almost 12,500. This at a time when the government has submitted gun reform laws to parliament. The aim of the legal changes is to bring Swiss legislation in line with the European Union directive aimed at tightening firearm regulations by…
This content was published on
Switzerland has about 9% more guns than it did a year ago, according to a platform where owners can register their weapons.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.