Swiss vote to keep their guns at home

Deutsche Welle
Feb 14, 2011

Switzerland has rejected tighter gun controls and will continue to allow citizens to keep army-issued weapons at home. A referendum that sought to have weapons stored in armories instead was rejected.

Swiss voters on Sunday rejected a proposal to ban army firearms from their homes, following a nationwide referendum.

The referendum was launched by a coalition of non-governmental groups, religious authorities and center-left parties, who sought to get the weapons stored in armories instead.

Voters upheld their national tradition of having an ever-ready army, and many see keeping a weapon at home as a crucial aspect of national identity.

Just two hours after polls closed, 22 out of 26 cantons returned final results, with a majority of cantons – 17 – voting firmly against the move. For the referendum to have passed, it would have needed the support both a majority of cantons and a majority of people.

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