Ironic Swiss

Bloody Drunkard

It is terrible to have another tradgedy happen so soon after September 11. But the lack of news coverage been given to the tradgic death of 14 regional assembly members in Switzerland at the hands of a madman using the gun he was given by the Government after he completed his National Service. Surely a country in which legally each household must have a gun to ensure National Defence needs to review its relaxed attitude towards the treat of crimes like todays tragic events.

Also Methinks if this event happened in America we would hear about it for weeks whereas I only found out ten minutes ago.

bonkey

Strange that the international coverage is so low. I think most newsies are either too caught up in the "war on terror" reporting, or just dont want to report about more madmen.

Was on the news here (Switzerland!) all yesterday.

I dunno what people outside .ch are hearing in the reports, but I'm too lazy to go write the full story (as I know it) if you're hearing all the details anyway. Let me know if you want the skinny.

In terms of it changing attitudes....it may. However, in a nation where you have 7 million people, and most adult males having their service semi-automatic 9mm and SiG assault rifle at home, it is interesting that this is a very rare occurrence.

From asking some people, they *think* that military weapons have been used illegally like this twice before in their memories....which would be not bad for 20-30 years. I'm not trying to diminish the tragedy in any way, but this is a freak occurrence over here, and by all accounts that guy was seriously disturbed.

Also, please note he is believed to have been in possession of, and used, a frag grenade....which he definitely didnt have issued as "home hardware" or whatever you would like to call it. He is also reported to have had additional weaponry in the boot of his car, which again, isnt his military issue. Given this, I think he does not even indicate a problem with the current weapons policy. He was a nut who was able to get guns. That he had (and used) military issue ordinance is not really that significant. That he was trained to use them is perhaps more significant, but again, with gun-clubs and shooting-ranges over here, thats not really going to be a major issue either.


Of course, getting off the train on the way home and seeing about 30 youths standing around on the platform in cammo with their SiGs was a little unnerving. They were off for the annual mil service.

It is also unnerving to see a kid in "hip hop" gear, going down the street on a skateboard, with an assault rifle slung over his shoulder....but apparently you learn to ignore these things. While rare, they are a regular part of life here. Its strange for a foreigner like me, but the Swiss dont even notice it.

jc

Magwitch

Drunkard, when someone goes "postal" in the states and kills a simular number of people it recieves very little coverage. Other US massacres involving children do revieve a higher level of coverage, granted - but there is no real comparison.

Elias

While guns do help these insane nutters to kill people more easily, stricter gun laws probably won't stop your average mass murderer from killing people, look at the Twin Towers they didn't have guns. In saying that legalising guns cannot be a good thing. Even given modern day warfare equipping your citizens with guns isn't going to stop invading tanks or aircraft. Guns are far more a liability thatn anything else. In the states I think the statistic is that you are 40 times more likely to be shot if you own a firearm.