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Barbecue (alt.food.barbecue) Discuss barbecue and grilling--southern style "low and slow" smoking of ribs, shoulders and briskets, as well as direct heat grilling of everything from burgers to salmon to vegetables. |
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OT PING Sasch
Sarah Austin > wrote:
> http://www.time.com/time/world/artic...616393,00.html > > Heidi Get Your Gun > By _Helena Bachmann_ (javascript:void(0)) Tuesday, May. 01, 2007 > > September the hills around Zurich are alive — with the sound of > gunfire. Nobody is alarmed, however, because they know it emanates > from a bunch of teenagers doing what comes naturally to nearly every > Swiss: sharpshooting. And there's nothing random about it: The 12- to > 16-year-olds are participating in Knabenschiessen, the world's largest > youth rifle competition, which blends the jarring report of rifle fire > with the melodious ringing of cow bells. There's a paradox in this > peaceful and neutral country that would make the NRA drool with envy: > Firearms are as ubiquitous as chocolate and edelweiss. > Weapons and ammunition — not multitasking pocket knives — are > routinely > > issued to, and kept at home by, all able-bodied Swiss men for their > annual military service. This custom is tied to the long-held belief > that enemies could invade tiny Switzerland fairly quickly, so every > reservist had to be able to fight his way to his regiment's assembly > point. The Swiss learn to shoot from an early age, and develop a deep > sense of responsibility toward their firearms. Every summer, hundreds > of thousands of military arms are retrieved from closets and attics, > slung over shoulders, and taken on bikes, buses and trains to > compulsory shooting practices held in nearly every village and town. In > fact, firearms are so anchored in Swiss society, and the crime rate so > low, that gun control has never been an issue. "We feel it's our > patriotic and civic duty to use the guns wisely," explains Felix > Endrich, a spokesman for the Swiss Armed Forces. "We respect this > tradition." A 1999 law regulates the sale and licensing of private > guns, including a ban on carrying concealed weapons, but the tradition > allowing military rifles and 50 rounds of ammunition in private homes > — dispersing an estimated 2 million firearms and millions of rounds of > ammunition throughout a country of 7.4 million people — has mostly > gone unchallenged. Until now, that is. Some political and pacifist > groups are planning to force a nationwide vote to end the cherished > custom of "a gun in every closet." Murmurs of discontent have been > reverberating since 2001, when a disgruntled citizen opened fire with > his army rifle inside the chamber of a regional parliament, killing 14 > and injuring 14 others. Opposition to the guns-at-home tradition > gained momentum last year when a ski champion was shot to death by her > husband. And, in the past few weeks, discontent has grown more > vociferous following reports of a man brandishing his army rifle in a > hotel, killing one person and injuring four others. "Keeping guns at > home is outdated, useless and dangerous," says Chantal Gallard?, a > socialist parliamentarian who is spearheading the fight for stricter > arms legislation. Gallard?'s argument is bolstered by statistics > showing 300 gun-related deaths — mostly suicides — every year. "These > deaths are impulsive decisions taken in the heat of the moment," says > Hans Kurt, who heads the Swiss Society of Psychiatrists and > Psychotherapists, and supports tougher gun-control laws. "Take away an > easy access to a gun, and these tragedies are preventable." Supporters > of the status quo say anyone intent on committing a crime or suicide > will find a way regardless of the availability of firearms. "There is > always that risk, but the majority of our people are law-abiding," says > Ferdinand Hediger, head of international relations for Pro Tell, > Switzerland's > gun lobby, aptly named after the country's legendary apple shooter, > William Tell, who used a crossbow to target enemies long before > firearms were invented. Seventy five million rounds of ammunition are > fired every year, Hediger says, yet only a tiny number are used in > killings. "Every death is one too many, but statistics have to be put > in perspective." The Swiss Parliament recently threw out a plan to > tighten the gun law. Still, acting on the outrage over the recent > shootings and the mounting pressure from left-wing groups, politicians > vowed to reconsider the issue in June. Ultimately, under the Swiss > system of direct democracy, the citizens might have the last word. But > for now, the crack of rifle fire is the sound of springtime in the > hills around Switzerland. -- Nick, KI6VAV. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families: https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/ Thank a Veteran! Support Our Troops: http://anymarine.com/ You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! ~Semper Fi~ USMC 1365061 |