According to official data, almost 64 percent of the country's residents favored tightening weapons control.
In Switzerland, where virtually every citizen is a conscript and where shooting for sport remains popular, the vote results indicated a turn toward the European Union. Promoters of the initiative said that if it was not supported, the country could lose its status under the Schengen Agreement. Opponents of the idea suggested that the move was a first step toward the disarmament of Switzerland.
Luca Filippini: With the new law the half-automatic rifles 57 and 90 will be forbidden. You can just buy and own them with an exemption permit. About 80 percent of the 130,000 shooters in Switzerland shoot with an assault rifle 90 or 57. So about 100,000 people will practice their hobby with a forbidden weapon.
The EU firearms directive states that the measures are to be reviewed every five years. We fear a lot more of aggravations soon. This would be the end of shooting sport in Switzerland.
Sputnik: Why was the EU concerned about Swiss gun laws?
Luca Filippini: Switzerland is a member of the Schengen area (Schengen agreement). That’s why Switzerland must take over the laws concerning this agreement.
The EU has adopted a new weapons directive, which is part of the Schengen collection of laws.
Sputnik: The reform won 63.7 percent of the ballot with only canton Ticino rejecting the legal amendment. Why is it so? What's the gun tradition in different areas of Switzerland?
Luca Filippini: The ballot shows a difference between rural and urban areas. In rural areas, the law has been rejected.
Sputnik: What are the new requirements of the law, what is the difference with the current legislation?
There are a lot of other restrictions like registration of all weapons or a marking requirement for all parts of a weapon.
Sputnik: What were the arguments of the law opponents?
Luca Filippini: The weapons directive of the EU was intended to fight against terrorism.
But the new law affects only legal gun owners. Terrorists won’t buy their guns in a legal way. The bureaucracy is growing, but there is no safety benefit.
Sputnik: What has the situation with the firearms been so far in Switzerland? Were there any Columbine-like incidents?
Luca Filippini: The gun culture in Switzerland is completely different from the gun culture in other countries. In Switzerland, every man must do his military service.
And everyone gets a gun to keep it at home (till the age of 34). After finishing the military service, you are allowed to keep your gun, if you want to. You must have a good reputation, no problems with the police and get a buying permit by the police. Therefore, there are a lot of weapons in private households.
Every year (next time from 24 to 26 may) we have the “Eidgenössisches Feldschiessen” (a federal shooting event). About 130’000 shooters and non-shooters participate every year. This shows that Swiss people have a relaxed relationship with guns. Indeed, there are very few homicides or accidents with weapons and normally no problem with legal weapons.
Sputnik: How strong is the gun lobby in Switzerland?
Sputnik: What consequences and reaction can we expect to see after the law is implemented?
Luca Filippini: The Federal council has always promised that nothing will change with the new law and that the law will be implemented pragmatically. The Swiss Shooting Sport Federation will insist on a pragmatic implementation. We will take the proponents upon the promises they made.
Views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Luca Filippini and do not necessarily reflect those of Sputnik.