Who has the right to go out armed?

Who has the right to go out armed?

"I would like to know whether Switzerland has the same right to carry a firearm in the street as the United States?

Tania, La Plaine

The issue of firearms regularly hits the headlines in Switzerland. On 13 February 2011, the Swiss people rejected by more than 55% the initiative "For protection against gun violence", which aimed in particular to reduce the number of firearms kept in homes by some 1.7 million by making it compulsory for military weapons to be deposited in arsenals.

It is therefore the Arms Act that regulates the possession and carrying of arms by civilians. This legislation covers both firearms and knives that are considered dangerous, such as butterfly or lock knives, or any other object designed to injure human beings, such as brass knuckles and truncheons.

Anyone wishing to acquire a firearm must first obtain an "acquisition permit" from the relevant cantonal authority. This is issued under relatively flexible conditions, i.e. to any person of legal age who is capable of discernment and has no reason to fear that he or she will use the firearm in a dangerous manner. In addition, the applicant's criminal record must not include any acts of violence or repeated commission of felonies or misdemeanours. It should be noted that the application does not need to be justified when the applicant alleges the practice of a sport, hunting or the establishment of a collection.

However, the conditions for obtaining a "firearms licence", which makes it legal to carry a firearm in a place accessible to the public, are much stricter. In addition to the conditions governing the granting of a purchase permit, applicants must demonstrate that they need a weapon to protect themselves, others or property from a tangible danger. They must also pass an examination attesting to their ability to handle the weapon in question. The permit is issued in Geneva by the Department of Security for a maximum period of 5 years and for a specific type of weapon.

It is clear from the foregoing that Swiss legislation is clearly less permissive with regard to the carrying of weapons than is American law. As a result, very few people in Switzerland have a permit to carry a firearm. It should be pointed out, however, that such a permit is not required to transport a firearm to or from a shooting range or gun shop, or when changing residence.