Swiss voters favour EU gun restrictions

Swiss voters overwhelmingly backed new restrictions on semi-automatic firearms, choosing to forgo a potential standoff with the European Union.

While Switzerland never joined the 28-country bloc, it is a member of the open-border Schengen area. Therefore it must harmonise its weapons laws or face being forced out of the agreement as well as the Dublin system for refugees. SRF TV reported on Sunday that 67% of voters supported the change, citing a projection. As part of the reform, civilian use and ownership of largemagazine semi-automatic guns will require special permission and additional checks.

“It shows that the population really sees that we need Schengen-Dublin and that the restrictions for the gun law are marginal and that they’re accepted,” said Erich Ettlin, a lawmaker from the Christian Democrats.

Fearing their country’s tradition of shooting for sport might was under threat, rifle aficionados had opposed the change, saying it wouldn’t make the country any safer, since criminals don’t typically buy guns legally.

Sylvia Flueckiger-Baeni, a member of parliament from the anti-immigrant, EU-skeptic Swiss People’s Party told broadcaster SRF the outcome was a “catastrophe”. Opponents “just brought the Schengen argument and apparently that stuck”.

Switzerland ranks high in Europe for civilian ownership of firearms on a per capita basis, as there is mandatory military service and former soldiers may keep their weapons.

Gun crime is rare and the last mass-fatality shooting took place in 2001.