Women's magazine Annabelle ran a petition in 2006 to remove military guns from homes.
Strengthening gun laws has become a focus of attention in Switzerland recently, particularly following the murder of former ski-star Corinne Rey-Bellet on 30 April 2006. Annabelle magazine later received over 17,000 signatures for their petition 'Keine Schusswaffen zu Hause!' (no weapons at home!)
A new law prohibiting storage of military ammunition at home was adopted by the Swiss parliament on 27 September 2007. A more comprehensive revision of the gun laws has been proposed by an alliance of political parties and campaigners, who are seeking a referendum to change the law. The campaign needs to obtain sufficient signatures on a petition for a referendum to take place.
Military guns
There are about 200,000 Swiss men who undertake military service in annual courses of 2-4 weeks. They are permitted to keep their military weapon at home. Rey-Bellet and her brother were shot and killed by her husband, using his military weapon, with which he later committed suicide. A further 1.5 million military guns are estimated to belong to former militiamen.
Military guns are used in 280 gun deaths a year in Switzerland, according to reserach by Professor Martin Killias of Lausanne University. This is the equivalent of a gun death rate of 3.7 deaths per 100,000 people, which is higher than the gun death rate in most other Western European countries, for all types of guns, not just military guns.
Civilian guns
In addition to the military guns, there are an estimated 230,000 civilian guns in the country. Switzerland has a relatively high level of gun possession, with guns in 36% of households. This is linked to the high proportion of guns used in suicide (27%), according to a recent study by researchers at Zurich University. In countries where gun availability has been reduced, the proportion of guns used in suicides has also reduced.
More information
Gun suicide rates
This page is from the Ministry of Home Affairs and presents suicide rates in Switzerland from 1995-2004 disaggregated by age and gender. (in German)
Homicides and domestic violence 2002-04
( in French)
Suicide and suicide prevention in Switzerland (2005)
(in French)
Use of Army Weapons and Private Firearmsfor Suicide and Homicide in the Region of Basel
Short article in English, 2006.
More articles on gun-related crime
Link to the Swiss Criminology Journal offering access to various articles in French and German on gun related criminality.
Gun laws
Website of the Swiss Parliament which contains laws pertinent to arms and ammunition questions; available in German, French, Italian, and English.
Regional legislation
Page granting access to EU-Schengen legislative documents pertaining to the possession and acquisition of firearms. (in French)
International obligations
Page linking to conventions and recommendations supported by the Swiss governemnt internationally.
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