Switzerland guns: Living with firearms the Swiss way
Continued (pg3),...
A lot of hyperactive children come to rifle club - they learn to stand still, to concentrate for much longer
Michael Merki, Shooting instructor
"But over the last 20 years, now that the majority of soldiers don't have ammunition at home, we have seen a decrease in gun violence and a dramatic decrease in gun-related suicides. Today we see maybe 200 gun suicides per year and it used to be 400, 20 years ago. "
The army is not the only entity to have a tradition with guns however. About 600,000 Swiss - many of them children - belong to shooting clubs.
On the second weekend in September each year, about 4,000 Zurich girls and boys, aged 12 to 16, take part in Knabenschiessen, a rifle marksmanship contest. The winner is honoured with the title King of the Marksmen.
"Never point your gun anywhere but the target or the ceiling," instructor Michael Merki warns me as he gives me my first air rifle lesson at a Zurich shooting range. "Safety must come first." He steadies my hand.
It has taken a good five minutes to unpack Michael's guns. I count four padlocks on his carrying case.
Civilians trained to fight helped keep Switzerland out of two world wars
"Shooting instructors at rifle clubs always control who is shooting," he says. And all ammunition bought at the club has to be used there.
"When the shooting is finished and the person wants to leave the club, the instructor will look to see how many bullets have been shot and will demand the rest are given back."
I'm always amazed how the National Rifle Association points to Switzerland - they make it sound as if it was part of southern Texas!
Prof Martin Killias, Zurich University
He loads my rifle and, reluctantly, I shoot twice at the target - the first shots I've ever fired in my life.
When I see I've scored highly with a very accurate shot, I feel an electric frisson of excitement go through my body. I wonder how children manage that sense of thrill, and suggest that perhaps gun clubs glorify weapons and encourage an unhealthy fascination with guns?
A murmur of protest is heard around the rifle club.
"It teaches people to respect guns," Michael tells me. "A lot of hyperactive children come to rifle club. They learn to stand still, to concentrate for much longer, and it helps them get better results in school, and in life."
Swiss citizens - for example hunters, or those who shoot as a sport - can get a permit to buy guns and ammunition, unless they have a criminal record, or police deem them unsuitable on psychiatric or security grounds. But hunters and sportsmen are greatly outnumbered by those keeping army guns- which again illustrates the difference between Switzerland and the US.
Find out more
*.Listen hereto Emma Jane Kirby's report on BBC Radio 4's Broadcastin g House
*.Download the Broadcastin g House podcast
Prof Killias cannot hide his anger with those in America who use Switzerland to illustrate their argument that more gun ownership would deter or stop violence.
"We don't have a gun culture!" he snaps, waving his hand dismissively.
"I'm always amazed how the National Rifle Association in America points to Switzerland - they make it sound as if it was part of southern Texas!" he says.
"We have guns at home, but they are kept for peaceful purposes. There is no point taking the gun out of your home in Switzerland because it is illegal to carry a gun in the street. To shoot someone who just looks at you in a funny way - this is not Swiss culture!"
Street violence has gone up in recent years in Switzerland but there hasn't been an increase in gun-related incidents.
That's little comfort, though, to Anne Ithen. She has given up her political career since she was gunned down in the Zug parliament 12 years ago, but she retains strong political opinions.
"I'm not happy about the situation now in Switzerland," she tells me firmly. "The laws have not changed very much, only a tiny, wee bit. It takes just a short moment if a weapon is used to destroy a lot, as you can see with my story, and it takes a very long time to recover and build a new life… and that's a very hard fact to swallow."
She smiles at me kindly. "You ask if I often think about the shooting?" She points down to her wheelchair. "It's always present."
A lot of hyperactive children come to rifle club - they learn to stand still, to concentrate for much longer
Michael Merki, Shooting instructor
"But over the last 20 years, now that the majority of soldiers don't have ammunition at home, we have seen a decrease in gun violence and a dramatic decrease in gun-related suicides. Today we see maybe 200 gun suicides per year and it used to be 400, 20 years ago. "
The army is not the only entity to have a tradition with guns however. About 600,000 Swiss - many of them children - belong to shooting clubs.
On the second weekend in September each year, about 4,000 Zurich girls and boys, aged 12 to 16, take part in Knabenschiessen, a rifle marksmanship contest. The winner is honoured with the title King of the Marksmen.
"Never point your gun anywhere but the target or the ceiling," instructor Michael Merki warns me as he gives me my first air rifle lesson at a Zurich shooting range. "Safety must come first." He steadies my hand.
It has taken a good five minutes to unpack Michael's guns. I count four padlocks on his carrying case.
Civilians trained to fight helped keep Switzerland out of two world wars
"Shooting instructors at rifle clubs always control who is shooting," he says. And all ammunition bought at the club has to be used there.
"When the shooting is finished and the person wants to leave the club, the instructor will look to see how many bullets have been shot and will demand the rest are given back."
I'm always amazed how the National Rifle Association points to Switzerland - they make it sound as if it was part of southern Texas!
Prof Martin Killias, Zurich University
He loads my rifle and, reluctantly, I shoot twice at the target - the first shots I've ever fired in my life.
When I see I've scored highly with a very accurate shot, I feel an electric frisson of excitement go through my body. I wonder how children manage that sense of thrill, and suggest that perhaps gun clubs glorify weapons and encourage an unhealthy fascination with guns?
A murmur of protest is heard around the rifle club.
"It teaches people to respect guns," Michael tells me. "A lot of hyperactive children come to rifle club. They learn to stand still, to concentrate for much longer, and it helps them get better results in school, and in life."
Swiss citizens - for example hunters, or those who shoot as a sport - can get a permit to buy guns and ammunition, unless they have a criminal record, or police deem them unsuitable on psychiatric or security grounds. But hunters and sportsmen are greatly outnumbered by those keeping army guns- which again illustrates the difference between Switzerland and the US.
Find out more
*.Listen hereto Emma Jane Kirby's report on BBC Radio 4's Broadcastin g House
*.Download the Broadcastin g House podcast
Prof Killias cannot hide his anger with those in America who use Switzerland to illustrate their argument that more gun ownership would deter or stop violence.
"We don't have a gun culture!" he snaps, waving his hand dismissively.
"I'm always amazed how the National Rifle Association in America points to Switzerland - they make it sound as if it was part of southern Texas!" he says.
"We have guns at home, but they are kept for peaceful purposes. There is no point taking the gun out of your home in Switzerland because it is illegal to carry a gun in the street. To shoot someone who just looks at you in a funny way - this is not Swiss culture!"
Street violence has gone up in recent years in Switzerland but there hasn't been an increase in gun-related incidents.
That's little comfort, though, to Anne Ithen. She has given up her political career since she was gunned down in the Zug parliament 12 years ago, but she retains strong political opinions.
"I'm not happy about the situation now in Switzerland," she tells me firmly. "The laws have not changed very much, only a tiny, wee bit. It takes just a short moment if a weapon is used to destroy a lot, as you can see with my story, and it takes a very long time to recover and build a new life… and that's a very hard fact to swallow."
She smiles at me kindly. "You ask if I often think about the shooting?" She points down to her wheelchair. "It's always present."
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