>Exactly. When I was there (granted that was mid 80s) every man had a gun and every single one knew how to use it VERY WELL. They had practice. It was inconceivable to use it for anything other than national defense (or maybe a wolf or something). Totally different perspective. Hopefully Bruno can correct that perception if it is now toally false...



Every man serving in the Swiss Army has a gun. Practice is required once a year (and when you don't score a certain number of points, you'll do it again <s>). Although practice takes place in a shooting range and isn't that difficult.

If you get dismissed/released you can decide whether you want the keep a rifle (altered to semi automatic, though). So your perception is still valid, although I never heard that someone used that rifle for hunting and wolfs are back here in Switzerland only for 5 years or so and usually get killed by cars.