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Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail More Yahoo! Services Account Options New User? Sign Up Sign In Help Yahoo! Search web search Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Africa Europe Latin America Middle East North America Swiss to vote on keeping army weapons at home AFP - Sunday, February 13 Send IM Story Print Swiss to vote on keeping army weapons at home GENEVA (AFP) - – Switzerland, which has the highest rate of suicide by firearms in Europe, votes Sunday on whether to abolish its long-standing tradition of letting citizens keep army-issued weapons at home. The referendum, launched by a coalition of non-governmental groups, the Church and centre-left parties, wants the weapons to be kept in armouries instead. The people's initiative is seeks to abolish the practice of allowing those on military service to take home their government-issue assault rifles even after they leave the army. The practice was once a core part of the country's defence strategy, which was in part aimed at deterring invasion with the threat that citizens, mainly men, are combat-ready at any sign of trouble. According to official data, about two million firearms are in circulation in this Alpine country of about seven million inhabitants. But there are an estimated 240,000 more unregistered weapons. The Swiss ease with weapons is betrayed on the street and in railway stations, as young conscripts travel to and from military service nonchalantly carrying their semi-automatic rifle, with barely a glance from passers-by. Xavier Schwitzguebel, an officer in the Swiss army when he is on compulsory military service, pointed out that gun culture is a tradition here. "If the yes goes through, it really risks destroying the country," he warned. Swiss society is built on trust between the citizen and the state, he argued. "If we take away the weapon, which represents this trust, that means that we are breaking the sacred union between democracy and citizen." The government has also called on the population to vote against the initiative, explaining that "current legislation assures adequate and sufficient protection of the population against the abusive use of weapons." Nevertheless, some have been alarmed by episodes such as the 2001 shooting in central Switzerland's Zug canton, when 14 people were gunned down during a local parliament sitting. Proponents of the ban believe that the easy availability of weapons poses a danger particularly for suicidal people. Rates of suicide using firearms in Switzerland are three times higher than in the rest of Europe, said Anne-Marie Trabichet, from Stop Suicide, one of the groups that launched the initiative. The latest opinion polls carried out days ahead of the nationwide vote found the country fairly evenly divided over the issue, with 47 percent for the ban and 45 percent against. Eight percent were undecided. For the proposal to be passed, it will require the support of the majority of Swiss citizens and of the Swiss cantons. Recommend Send IM Story Print Related Articles Stampede at Nigerian president's rally kills 11 AFP - Sunday, February 13 UK-World Summary Reuters - 33 minutes ago Egypt military rulers under pressure from protesters Reuters - 33 minutes ago US postpones talks with Afghanistan, Pakistan AFP - 39 minutes ago Death toll from Iraqi suicide attack rises to 33 AFP - 42 minutes ago News Search Top Stories Airlift rescues abandoned LA chihuahuas Greece slams 'unacceptable' EU-IMF asset sale call Weber says he had 'minority' view on key issues Iraq suicide bomber kills 27 Shiite pilgrims Erik Guay claims ski world downhill gold More Top Stories » ADVERTISEMENT Most Popular Most Viewed US golfer Woods finds old habits hard to shake Russia loses military satellite: reports US auto sales jump 17 percent in January Dow closes over 12,000 for first time since June 2008 Egypt's Mubarak to step down at September election More Most Viewed » More Most Recommended » Elsewhere on Yahoo! Financial news on Yahoo! Finance Stars and latest movies Best travel destinations More on Yahoo! News Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Weekend Edition Subscribe to our news feeds Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS » More news feeds | What are news feeds? Also on Yahoo! Answers Groups Mail Messenger Mobile Travel Finance Movies Sports Games » All Yahoo! Services Site Highlights Singapore Full Coverage Most Popular Entertainment Photos Yahoo! News Network Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Community | Intellectual Property Rights Policy | Help

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