Think twice before blaming guns. Visitors to Switzerland are astonished to see guns and rifles being carried openly in public -- particularly when there is a "shooting festival" occurring nearby. In fact, Switzerland has more firepower per person than any other country in the world -- yet it is one of the safest places on Earth.
* In 1997, there were 87 intentional homicides and 102 attempted homicides in the entire country -- with firearms involved in 91 of the 189 total cases.
* Switzerland had a homicide rate of 1.2 per 100,000 population and a robbery rate of 36 per 100,000.
* Almost half of those crimes were committed by non-resident foreigners -- whom locals call "criminal tourists."
* By comparison, Britain -- which has strict gun control laws -- had a homicide rate in 1994 of 1.4 per 100,000 and a robbery rate of 116 per 100,000.
Slashdot Mirror
Think twice before blaming guns. Visitors to Switzerland are astonished to see guns and rifles being carried openly in public -- particularly when there is a "shooting festival" occurring nearby. In fact, Switzerland has more firepower per person than any other country in the world -- yet it is one of the safest places on Earth.
* In 1997, there were 87 intentional homicides and 102 attempted homicides in the entire country -- with firearms involved in 91 of the 189 total cases.
* Switzerland had a homicide rate of 1.2 per 100,000 population and a robbery rate of 36 per 100,000.
* Almost half of those crimes were committed by non-resident foreigners -- whom locals call "criminal tourists."
* By comparison, Britain -- which has strict gun control laws -- had a homicide rate in 1994 of 1.4 per 100,000 and a robbery rate of 116 per 100,000.