Gun loving folk

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Young ladies on their way to the annual shooting competition near Lucerne. (Keystone/Sigi Tischler) Keystone

Safety checks before the competition. (Keystone/Alessandro Della Bella) Keystone

Open air shooting gallery in the Emmental region. (Keystone/Edi Engeler) Keystone

At the traditional Morgarten shooting competition in Oberägeri to celebrate the 1315 battle of the Swiss Confederation forces against troops from the Habsburg Empire. (Keystone/Martin Rütschi) Keystone

The annual Rütli shooting competition to commemorate the legendary beginnings of Swiss history takes place in November on a meadow above Lake Lucerne in central Switzerland. (Keystone/Urs Flüeler) Keystone

Shooting practice with pistols. (RDB/Jean-Luc Iseli) RDB

Gun lady at the federal shooting competition of 1949. (RDB) RDB

The annual Knabenschiessen in Zurich is one of the oldest target shooting events dating back to the 17th century. The competitions are open to 13-17 year olds. (Keystone/Gaetan Bally) Keystone

Trading weapons at a fair in Lausanne. (Keystone/Christian Brun) Keystone

Summer biathlon competition - cross-country skating and rifle shooting - outside Zurich. (Keystone/Alessandro Della Bella) Keystone

At the federal traditional costumes event in Lucerne in 1951. (RDB) RDB

At the Frauenfeld military running competition in 1976. Such events became popular in Switzerland in the 1960s. (RDB/Felix Aeberli) RDB

Militia soldier taking a taxi to regular refresher duty in 1958. (RDB/Milou Steiner) RDB

The recruits are given their personal SG 550 assault rifles on the second day of basic training. (EQ Images/Eddy Risch) EQ Images

Field days 1980. (RDB/Illustré/Philippe Dutoit) RDB

Going back to civilian life after completing basic training. (Keystone/Martin Rütschi) Keystone

Army-issue guns are often stored next to food supplies in Swiss households. (Keystone/Martin Rütschi) Keystone

Old standard-issue army carbines are returned to be destroyed in 2008. (Keystone/Sigi Tischler) Keystone

A hunter and his sniffer dog on the lookout in the mountains of Graubünden.(Keystone/Arno Balzarini) Keystone

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Rifles and pistols form part of a deep-rooted Swiss tradition.

Whether it’s the militia army, the federal shooting competiton or a spontaneous volley of gunfire to express joy, guns are part of the Swiss heritage. And many people associate them with historical battles rather than with killings and crime. (Picture editor: Christoph Balsiger, swissinfo.ch)