3.2.2 Switzerland: Regulations on guns
Description
This article is from the Switzerland FAQ, by Marc Schaefer schaefer@alphanet.ch with numerous contributions by others.
3.2.2 Switzerland: Regulations on guns
(most of this contributed by Emmanuel BAECHLER)
NOTE: A new law has been adopted by the Parliament in June 1997.
This new law should enter into effect by the end of the first
semester of 1998. Some points of application (Ordonnance) are
not yet clear. The English translation of that law is
available at:
http://www-internal.alphanet.ch/~schaefer/scs/gun_law_1998
It has been translated by Emmanuel BAECHLER. Please pay attention
to the disclaimer and copyright on that document.
The following information is still accurate until 1998.
First of all, firearms are regulated by a Federal law, but it has to
be applied by Cantons, thus there are 26 practices. Happily most of
them agree, in a sensible way, on how to apply that law.
Note that a new federal law is being prepared. Its content is not yet
known.
In order to buy a handgun, you must get a purchase license from the
police. To get it, you must be over 18, you must be member of a
shooting society (at least for the first ones) and, if you live with
other people, they must somewhat agree with that (I really don't know
what can happen if they don't). You must also produce a good-morality
certificate.
The first license takes a little bit of time, around one month. all
the other ones come in a few days (between a week and two weeks and a
half in my experience).
On each license, you must mention your motivation. The most current
one is ``shooting and collection''. In fact it is so frequent that it
has been proposed to directly print it on the sheets. Unhappily the
police did not like the idea.
As long as your motivation is ``shooting and collection'', the policy
is that a .22 is *STRONGLY* recommended as a first handgun. However
you will be able to buy a 9mm, a .357 or a .45.
The handguns that you won't be able to get for the first licenses are
pocket handguns (snubs) and monsters (>= .44 Magnum). Pocket handguns
remain difficult to get, unless you are a collector, or if you ask for
a purchase license, with ``defense'' as a motivation.
The practice about ``defense'' licenses varies over time. A few years
ago, the police was rather restrictive and you really needed ``good
reason'' to get them. They are more liberal, now. This makes more
sense as concealed carry is permitted in many cantons (for example Vaud).
Full auto rifles are submitted to licenses. In order to get one, you
must be considered as a collector. In some cantons, this is automatic
after the fifth firearm. People in that situation can get almost
whatever they want. However, people cannot use full auto rifles. There
are some exceptions, but they are quite rare and require quite a lot
of effort to get them. The only real one is that you can use your
privately owned full auto Stgw90/Fass90 in the OFFICIAL ranges under
the same conditions as military ordonnance Stgw90/Fass90,
or the old model 57. Note that the weapon kept at home by
soldiers is a fully working Stgw90/Fass90 (or 57), or a handgun for
officers.
Repeating and single action rifles are free of license.
Repeating and self loading shotguns require a purchase license, unless
you block their capacity at three shots and have a hunting permit. In
this case, they are considered as hunting firearms and do not require
any license.
In many German speaking Cantons, both self loading rifles, repeating
and self loading shotguns can be owned freely.
Finally, carrying is not regulated in some Cantons. So, when you get a
handgun license, you are totally free to carry it, if you want: this
is your responsibility. The practice is such that unless you are a
money carrier or something like that, you should carry your(s) weapon
concealed. Carrying a weapon openly cannot cause you real problems,
but you risk much more controls from the police (ID checks, ALWAYS
carry an ID in Switzerland -- and five francs, but that's another
story).
The exceptions:
- Geneva and Basel forbid full auto rifles.
- Geneva almost forbid semi-autos rifles (they make *very* difficult
to get them).
- Basel authorizes the purchase of at most 4 self loading rifles per year.
- Geneva and Zurich require a concealed carry permit which is very
difficult to get.
- Basel requires a concealed carry permit, which can be obtained without
motivation.
In many cantons silencers are forbidden.
About ammunition: There is no restriction, in the sense that you can
buy whatever you find on the market without any quantity
limitation. If you buy ten tons of 9mm Para, I am however sure that
the police will become highly interested by your activities.
Private companies can import ammunition freely, but they must have a
pretty serious material and financial base.
Note that individuals can import privately batches of 500 rounds of
ammo.
In Vaud, there is no limitation about the quantity of firearms that
you can own. However, if you buy 4 AK-74's a week, the police might
ask you some questions.
Finally, established foreigners have the same rights that Swiss
citizens about firearms, but I don't know the situation for people
with 1 year-renewable working permits.
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