According to a report in the newspaper Blick on Tuesday, 69 weapons were stolen and one was destroyed in a house fire. The remaining 32 weapons could no longer be found. Army spokesman Daniel Reist confirmed the report to the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA.
On the other hand, 26 lost weapons reappeared last year, with the vast majority being returned to the army by the police, who found them during police operations. The rest were handed in to the army by civilians.
In 2018, 107 weapons were reported missing. In 2017, the army launched an awareness-raising campaign on the subject of lost weapons. Since then, although more lost weapons have resurfaced, more losses have been reported.
The loss of a weapon has consequences of varying severity for members of the army, according to Blick. These can range from disciplinary punishment to three years imprisonment.
Tradition
All able-bodied Swiss men must do military service and have the option of storing their army rifle or other weapons at home. This is a long-standing tradition for the Swiss army, which is supposed to be ready for a call to arms in times of crisis.
The army rifle must be kept in a burglar-proof location and any theft must be reported immediately, but missing weapons are usually only reported when the soldier goes on military exercise or when he leaves the army and can’t find his gun.
Switzerland has one of the highest gun ownership rates in the world because of its militia army. The defence ministry estimates that over two million guns are in private hands in a population of 8.6 million.
More
More
Regulating firearms in gun-loving Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland’s gun laws and high rates of gun ownership reflect the country’s deep-seated belief in the right to bear arms.
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
New Swiss government minister prepared for defence mandate
This content was published on
New Swiss government minister Martin Pfister says he is prepared for the defence mandate sif he be asked to take on the vacant role.
Swiss-backed ‘Hera’ asteroid mission hits key milestone with Mars flyby
This content was published on
According to the European Space Agency (ESA), the Red Planet’s gravity will tweak the probe’s path, cutting months off the journey and saving a lot of fuel.
Swiss man arrested over Geneva parcel bomb attacks
This content was published on
A 61-year-old Swiss man was arrested in Geneva in connection with the parcel bomb incidents that left a man and a 12-year-old girl seriously injured.
UN officials in Geneva report over 100 civilian executions in western Syria
This content was published on
Verification is ongoing, and the actual number is likely higher, said a UN spokesperson in Geneva. A Syrian NGO claims executions could exceed 1,000.
Swiss pharma giant Roche partners with Zealand Pharma on new obesity treatment
This content was published on
Roche announced that it has struck an exclusive deal with Denmark's Zealand Pharma to develop and market petrelintide, a new treatment for obesity.
Experts lower Swiss growth forecasts due to US trade tensions
This content was published on
The uncertainty caused by ongoing trade conflicts is making companies hesitant to make decisions, which significantly hinders investment.
Swiss abbot resumes role following abuse investigation
This content was published on
Scarcella was accused in the Catholic Church abuse scandal last autumn. In October 2024, the Vatican declared there was no evidence of abuse or harassment against him.
Swiss stock exchange operator SIX to cut 150 jobs in efficiency drive
This content was published on
"We're not revealing the number of job losses at each location at the moment," said a SIX spokesperson. However, there will be cuts in Switzerland as well.
Martin Pfister named new Swiss government minister
This content was published on
Pfister’s election keeps the linguistic balance of Switzerland’s government, but shifts gender balance to only two women.
Swiss interior minister meets UN leaders in New York for women’s rights session
This content was published on
The Swiss interior minister also held bilateral meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women
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
Soldiers prefer to keep guns at home than in barracks
This content was published on
The vast majority of Swiss militia soldiers prefer to store their weapons at home rather than at a local military base. The government introduced this option in 2010 to improve firearm safety. As of the end of June 2016, only 789 army guns out of a total of 170,000 in circulation (0.5%) had been handed…
This content was published on
Last year, a total of 107 military weapons – assault rifles and pistols – were reported lost, the Swiss defence ministry said on Tuesday.
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.
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.