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A discussion of guns and reopening

Zurich, Switzerland - In the last two weeks, we've started to get a bit more spring weather (in between pockets of cold). Last weekend we took a nice walk by the lake and in the old town, which were predictably teeming with many other people eager to be out in the warm weather. Many of these people were unmasked which is in-keeping with Swiss reluctance to aggressively confront COVID-19. This weekend, we made our way to Schwyz for a hike between the mountains and along a river where we happened to pass a shooting range which was actively in use. Shooting ranges, and guns generally, are common in Switzerland, though the country has very few gun-related homicides. Swiss regulation and management of firearms and coronavirus are an interesting contrast - one seemingly very competent and the other less so. 

Hiking in Schwyz

First, our hike in Schwyz this weekend. Schwyz is centrally located in Switzerland and it is among the three original cantons of Switzerland. As Swiss things go, it's very old. Starting in the city of Schwyz, we wound our way over 15km between mountain ranges and along a river to Muotathal, a small village nestled into a valley whose name is difficult to pronounce. 

Along one portion of the route, jokes were posted every few hundred meters on placards mounted on long, upright logs. These were set up to engage and amuse children, but they served much the same purpose for us. The jokes were written in Swiss German, which is not to be confused with Swiss Standard German. Swiss German includes the various Alemannic German dialects which are commonly spoken throughout Switzerland. Swiss German dialects are very different from standard German (so much so that Germans require subtitles for Swiss German on TV). Anyway, this was one of the few times I've actually seen Swiss German written. Most writing, including newspapers, street signs, advertisements, etc. is in Swiss Standard German, which is very similar to German Standard German. Anyway, it was very hard to read and understand these jokes. Our friends Ben and Laura, who joined us made admirable attempts to translate which were partially successful. Ben and Laura speak German well and are also taking a course in Swiss German. However, they were stymied somewhat because they are learning Zug's Swiss German, which is different from Schwyz's Swiss German. Each canton, of course, has its own dialect of the Swiss German dialect. 

Here are some examples I copied from Wikipedia to illustrate the variance:
  • English: She comes to decorate our Christmas tree.
  • German Standard German: Sie kommt unseren Christbaum schmücken.
  • Swiss German: Si chunt üse Chrischtboum cho schmücke.

Also along the hike, we passed by some gun ranges, two of which were actively in use. These were creating loud booms that were echoing through the valley and detracted somewhat from the pastoral experience we were seeking. The Swiss, as it turns out, have a strong gun culture. Gun ranges are common. Hannah and I pass by gun ranges in Zurich on our morning runs. Shooting and hunting are popular here and there are many gun clubs. In Zurich, there is an annual shooting festival for teenagers dating back to the 17th century. There is also an active political lobbying group that advocates for fewer gun restrictions. Unsurprisingly, the Swiss have high gun ownership rates: about 28 guns per 100 people.

Old-timey 1925 participation award for Zurich's Shooting Festival


Despite this, the country has very few gun-related crimes. In 2016, there were only 47 attempted homicides with firearms. The US National Rifle Association (NRA) has often pointed to Switzerland as evidence that the prevalence and availability of guns doesn't contribute to gun violence. I agree with the NRA that the Swiss model for allowing widespread gun ownership and an active gun culture while maintaining safety is intriguing and that we in the US should consider adopting some of their practices and attitudes towards guns. Here are some more details about how the Swiss regulate guns that - shockingly - the NRA typically fails to mention: 
  • Most (but not all) guns and ammunition require a permit from the government.
  • People requesting a permit must submit to a criminal background check
  • People who have been convicted of a violent crime, have a drug or alcohol addiction, or express a violent or dangerous attitude are not given permits
  • Ammunition purchases typically require the purchaser to provide the seller with a recent copy of their criminal record
  • Guns are registered to an owner
  • Carrying or transporting weapons in public is strictly regulated and concealed carry permits are issued only vary rarely






Spring day in Zurich

Last weekend, we got some very nice warm weather. H and I took advantage and went down to the lake and the Altstadt (old city) for a walk. Predictably, these areas were teeming with people, many of whom were unfortunately not wearing masks despite the crowds.

On Monday, Switzerland will be lifting some restrictions: restaurants and bars will be allowed to reopen outdoors, gyms will reopen, and some other restrictions will be eased or lifted. You might think that this is because cases are declining and largely under control, but in fact the situation is rather the opposite: Cases appear to be growing, again.


Unfortunately, Switzerland has tended to drag its feet with respect to COVID-19. The country has taken action to restrict activity only very reluctantly. It was well into the fall of last year and only after cases were rising to astronomical levels before the Swiss mandated widespread use of masks in all public places (though they had been required on transit and in shopping centers earlier). Predictably, cases ran up very high over the winter and the country has been in a partial lockdown ever since. Most retail stores were closed until recently and restaurants, bars gyms, and large events have remained closed.  We're of course hopeful that the trend will reverse and cases will start to decline despite this change. There is some reason to be optimistic: the country is slowly vaccinating people and the warm weather means more activities will be outside. But it's disappointing to us that the government has not waited for cases to reach new lows before starting to lift restrictions.

Anyway, I don't want to leave you on a sad note, so here are some nice pictures from our walk around Zurich!







Sources

  • Brueck, Business Insider, 2019: https://www.businessinsider.com/switzerland-gun-laws-rates-of-gun-deaths-2018-2?r=US&IR=T#most-swiss-men-are-required-to-learn-how-to-use-a-gun-3
  • Wikipedia: "Estimated number of civilian guns per capita by country" -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimated_number_of_civilian_guns_per_capita_by_country
  • Wikipedia: "Firearms regulation in Switzerland" -  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearms_regulation_in_Switzerland
  • Swissinfo.ch: "Coronavirus: The Situation in Switzerland" - https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/covid-19_coronavirus--the-situation-in-switzerland/45592192
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Location: Zürich, Switzerland

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