Guns in Switzerland

[Jiminvirginia]

As near as I can tell, based on a little research, is that the Swiss have kept shooting sports available to all and shooting ranges are common. In gun toting America this does not seem to be the case and competions are the realm of the shooting elite.

[Dolt]

Our automated military has no need for large cohorts of conscripts. The missions are now built around volunteers backed by technically advanced firepower. Mandatory national service would be just as useful to the military now as bringing back horse cavalry.

Now if you want to have mandatory national service for other goals, different story. Lots of jobs today in land conservation that could use the manpower.

Those who have never been in the military do not understand that while technology is marvelous, you still need sufficient troops to take and occupy land. There has yet to be a real war won by technology alone.

[Allen]

As near as I can tell, based on a little research, is that the Swiss have kept shooting sports available to all and shooting ranges are common. In gun toting America this does not seem to be the case and competions are the realm of the shooting elite.

I remember as a kid going to turkey shoots. It was a great outing for many to fellowship, show off their skills and guns. It seemed to be held on the coldest day of the year and people were there selling hot coffee and hot chocolate. The prizes were your choice of a live caged turkey or a frozen one. I think everyone chose the frozen bird. What ended it all was when ATF agents started going to these events to snoop. Now days there is practically no family fun time with guns. The guns are in the closet or safe in case anyone ever needs one and that is about all that is said about them. As I mentioned before, shooting at the dump was way more entertaining than shooting at targets and while this doesn't sound like much it is just one more small part of life that people today will never experience.

There are ranges nearby today but if you go to one the atmosphere is 180 degrees different than the "olden" days. No one knows one another. No one wants to be bothered and may seem paranoid that you are standing so close to their gun. Everyone wears earmuffs so talking to them is kinda out of the question. You feel you can't go alone because you don't want to leave your gun or stuff sitting on the table when you go to check or replace your target.

It's sort of hard to enjoy shooting these days when people live in tract houses 10' apart as far as the eye can see. Just taking your gun outside in the back yard to clean at the picnic table would be enough to get you reported to the police.

Yesterday's squirrel rifle has become today's intruder rifle.

[togor]

Maybe it's just you, Allen. At the ranges I go to, this does not seem to be a problem. Yes, "Mickey-Mouse Ears" are common, but it's possible to converse over them. No worries about someone dashing off with someone else's rifle while targets are being checked. People aren't overly chatty (they came to shoot, primarily), but I can't remember the last time I saw someone bring a clearly anti-social attitude to the firing line. Obviously, YMMV.