http://www.the-times.co.uk/news/pages/tim/99/09/01/timfgneur01009.html?1124027

Alpine nation still 'most armed and most free'

BY FIONA FLECK ALMOST 500 years ago, Machiavelli wrote: "The Swiss are the most armed and the most free." His words are still relevant in Switzerland, which owes 400 years of neutrality to the traditional core role of the army, as well as its moutainous terrain.

The Swiss military reaches deep into civilian life and arguably into the Swiss psyche. Gun fanatics such as Dino Bellasi are not unique.

Created as a nation in arms, Switzerland is proud of its heritage of Alpine liberty, based on the legendary figure of William Tell, who is said to have liberated the Swiss from aggressive Austrians in 1291. Switzerland has one of the largest land-based armies in Europe. It has a small professional army of about 3,300, with a pool of about 360,000 conscripts. Britain has an army of 109,000 and the French around 230,000, including 130,000 conscripts.

Charles Heyman, editor of Jane's World Army, said: "The Swiss have a very large defence establishment and it tells you straight away how Switzerland managed to avoid the First and Second World Wars."

According to Article 18 of the Constitution, every Swiss male is subject to military service. In 1992, this was amended to allow alternative civilian service. When a Swiss conscript enters military service, it will engage him virtually his entire life.

Until 1995, conscription lasted a period of 30 years, from 20 to 50. Since then, it has been reduced to 22 years.

Every conscript must now serve two to three weeks every two years. Companies must take the financial burden. Soldiers keep equipment at home, including uniforms, weapons, live ammunition and other supplies. They are also legally and financially responsible for maintenance and may use the weapon in civilian life as long as it is ready when he is called up.

The army also determines social and class distinctions in what might appear to be an otherwise classless society.

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 01, 1999

Answers

In 1996, handguns were used to murder 2 people in New Zealand, 15 in Japan, 30 in Great Britain, 106 in Canada, 213 in Germany and 9,390 in the United States.

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 01, 1999.

So, how many were murdered in Switzerland you fucking moron?

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 01, 1999.

Good post Mumsie, but how about that tax rate?

-- R. Wright (blaklodg@hotmail.com), September 02, 1999.

Y2Kpro - not- would you please submit here the population statistics for those nations in that year, for comparison.

And will you please tell this forum for whom you work so hard here? Is the pay good? Do you sleep nights? Will you when it all goes down?

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), September 02, 1999.

Notice which country Pro left out! Australia.

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 02, 1999.

9390 - does that figure include suicides? Those don't really count as murder do they? If so, then the feds should also have to count those as gun violations not prosecuted - don't you think?

-- Tom (nomail@nomail.com), September 03, 1999.

Of course it includes suicides, but people like Y2K "pro" conveniently seem to always leave that part out.....

-- Bob (bob@bob.bob), September 03, 1999.

Bob,

It was a rhetorical question.

-- Tom (nomail@nomail.com), September 03, 1999.