As newspaper SonntagsBlickExternal link reported on Sunday, there are currently 865,000 weapons registered in Switzerland’s intercantonal platform – around 73,000 more than a year ago, as confirmed by Zurich’s cantonal police.
The Federal Department of Justice and Police had put the figure of registered firearms at 600,000 a few years ago, noted the newspaper.
Since 1999, Switzerland has had a federal lawExternal link banning specific types of guns nationwide and introducing permit requirements for others. Until the introduction of that national law, each canton had different rules. Today, all 26 cantons keep track of the guns held within their borders as well as the ammunition.
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Regulating firearms in gun-loving Switzerland
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Switzerland’s gun laws and high rates of gun ownership reflect the country’s deep-seated belief in the right to bear arms.
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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)
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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.