Re:Ask HN: What have you changed your mind about recently?
by Zarkonnen on Monday October 26, 2009 @06:19PM
(#904289)
Switzerland is actually a very bad example to use. The unusally (for Europe) high number of firearms there is because the members of the militia army keep an assault rifle at home. This is rather different from a handgun or a shotgun, and you're not allowed to use them outside military training.
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Re:Ask HN: What have you changed your mind about recently?
by protomyth on Monday October 26, 2009 @11:36PM
(#904743)
In a lot of ways, I think it is a very good example. They have access and advanced training (assault rifles are actually very hard to use). The fact that the citizens obey the law and don't use their weapons for greater crime is telling.
Re:Ask HN: What have you changed your mind about recently?
by mistermann on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @12:52AM
(#904868)
Correct. Guns are not the problem, culture is the problem. But if you have a bad culture, firearms can make it worse. But the reverse can also be true.
Re:Ask HN: What have you changed your mind about recently?
by Zarkonnen on Tuesday October 27, 2009 @02:34PM
(#906035)
But would you want to use an assault rifle in a mugging?
Re:Ask HN: What have you changed your mind about recently?
by mpf62 on Wednesday October 28, 2009 @07:05AM
(#907550)
I can’t see much difference in comparison to a shotgun. I have had training with the older Sig SG 510 and the newer Sig SG 550 assault rifle of the Swiss Army and they’re both about as easy to use as an airgun.
Even if you walk around in public with your assault rifle, nobody becomes suspicious. Active members of the army have to show up for a mandatory shooting program every year and shooting matches are very common too, so “Rambo look-alikes” on the streets aren’t an unusual appearance in Switzerland.
Nevertheless, 40% of all homicides are commited by cut and thrust weapons and “only” 10% by guns. The latter accounts for about 70% in the US.