Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Hunting Season

This brings back the memory of our trip to Switzerland in 1985.  We
discovered:
    Every man from the age of 18 through 60 is required to spend 3 weeks a
year refreshing his military training.
    On Sunday mornings, one hears two sounds, often
simultaneously......church bells pealing and gunfire at the local gunnery
range.
    Underground hangars for the fighter jets they keep on the alert at all
times.
    Men in uniform, carrying loaded rifles, waiting at the curb for the
local bus, or in the airport, or anywhere else in public.
It's all a part of Switzerland's readiness to protect themselves and
preserve their neutrality.  The saying goes, "Switzerland doesn't HAVE and
army, Switzerland IS the army."
Somehow, I didn't find it offensive, just "that's the way it is."

Barbara McCrary

----- Original Message -----
From: <heidi@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <lif@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: [RC] Hunting Season
>
> Switzerland has a program very similar to this.  Everyone is required to
> do one year's military service (in a country that never goes to war), and
> is required to keep and maintain their gun in their household from then
> on.  Hence every household has a gun, and someone in the household who
> knows how to use it.  And Switzerland has one of the lowest crime rates in
> the world, and one of the best reputations as a nation for being peaceful.
>
> Heidi
>
>
>
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 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

 If you are an AERC member - PLEASE VOTE in the Director at Large 
 and By Laws Elections.

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