New law in Switzerland on air rifle purchase

[joydeepm]

I was recently in switrzerland and wanted to pick up an air rifle . I was shocked to hear that the swiss govt has declared air rifles as " restricted for sale " and you cannot buy an air riflew any more from switzerland . Truly sad as I was hoping to pick up an HW97 .

[prashantsingh]

Never been to Switzerland , but when I was a child I was told that they did not even sell "Toy Guns" in shops for kids. One peace loving country that is. Perhaps the only nations which has never been to war in recent history.

[Olly]

While what I have heard is that virtually every house is armed !!

They have rifles and know how to use them too....

How true that is, well....

[Katana]

Contrary to popular theories about each man being armed and all that in Switzreland, few people realise that Geneva, Switzerland is the hub of the anti gun lobby. This is from where the UN is directed concerning civilian disarmament and this is where virtually all policies concerning armed conflict in the Third World is researched, statistics and surveys prepared and then passed on to the UN.

I have read their reports for the past ten years and it makes intriguing reading, especially when they club genuine and recreational shooters with possible criminals and 'disruptive elements'. Moreover, their policy references are just so similar to our own govt.'s orders lately, that it is difficult to figure out who follows whom.

Apparently, their 2011-12 report is suppose to have a chapter on Naxal/ Maoist activities.

http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/

[TwoRivers]

Every able male in Switzerland serves in the military. And he takes his service rifle, with ammunition, home with him. Getting to keep it after being past service age. But yes, there has been an anti gun element active in recent years. Gun crimes had been virtually unheard of, but with recent immigration, they have increased. Some purchase restriction have been imposed. Used to be, you walked into a gunshop and bought what you wanted, no questions asked.

[joydeepm]

Two Rivers
even today a swiss national can virtually walk into a gun shop in lucerne or zurich and buy pretty much what he wants . Since i walk for a swiss company - i have many swiss friends and bosses - all of whom confirm about having served in the military and having automatic rifles at home - their service rifles - which they are allowed to keep along with handguns . They are not allowed to carry them though , except to gun clubs and shooting competitions .
I saw automatic rifles for sale at Zimmerman in winkelreid strasse , Lucerne
Joydeep .

[MoA]

Like the rest of europe. air guns are restricted for sale to persons over 18 years of age. You need your ID, probably showing that you are a resident of Ch.
However if you want to export one, you do need paperwork. The Swiss are beaureaucratic (SP) if not anything else.

Deal with it.

[TwoRivers]

joydeepm: Once upon a time, you didn't have to be a Swiss national to do that. But back then, you could also have the completed rifle shipped to you in the US as a private citizen, without any hassle. But that was a long time ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the earth.

[fantumfan2003]

If its any consolation to you...it happened to me too......in NY, USA.

M.

I was recently in switrzerland and wanted to pick up an air rifle . I was shocked to hear that the swiss govt has declared air rifles as " restricted for sale " and you cannot buy an air riflew any more from switzerland . Truly sad as I was hoping to pick up an HW97 .