Swiss reject bid to tighten gun law

Swiss reject bid to tighten gun law At least 14 cantons vote against proposal to ban army rifles that was launched by doctors, churches and women's groups. Last Modified: 13 Feb 2011 13:25 GMT Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to tighten their country's liberal firearms laws. Official results showed on Sunday that at least 14 of Switzerland's 26 cantons (states) voted against the proposal to ban army rifles from homes and impose new requirements for buying other guns. The Alpine nation has a long tradition of men keeping army rifles at home even after completing their military service. Gun clubs and supporters of Switzerland's distinctive citizen soldier militia fiercely opposed the ban on army rifles in secure storage and imposition of new requirements for buying other guns. Proponents saw it as a way to reduce domestic violence and Switzerland's comparatively high rate of firearms-related suicide. The government said that existing laws are sufficient to ensure some 2.3 million mostly military weapons in a country of less than eight million people are not misused. The outcome of the nationwide referendum hinged to a large part on the votes of women and young people. Read the article