Since the university where I work is right next to the main train station, most of my Swiss-watching (pun very much intended) takes place in the station. The Swiss are interesting, particularly when it comes to weapons in public.
It’s common to see guys with slung SIG SG 550’s walking around the train station as they head off to military training, the range, etc. Nobody pays these guys any mind whatsoever; it’s just part of what’s normal here.
I admit to doing a double-take when I saw a guy with a slung katana picking up some groceries in the main station, but nobody else seemed to care. “Guy with a sword getting a liter of milk and some eggs. Meh.”
Even rather unusual things, like the guy wearing a full-body ghillie suit with a rifle slung on his back buying a cup of coffee from the McDonalds, go completely unremarked-upon by anyone here. It’s amusing to think of Swiss Wookie-suiters?being a thing.
Observing the Swiss
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4 responses to “Observing the Swiss”
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True. Of course, the Swiss culture is pretty alien to me in a lot of ways. The very sight of the weapon in public is subconsciously tied to “Oh, this person is a participant in some organized and sanctioned activity.” The Swiss respond well to organization and sanction.
If you had a flamethrower, they would probably just assume that you were a licensed flamethrower owner on your way to your flamethrower owner’s club’s mandatory monthly practice meeting. -
If only it were like that in the States!
gfa -
“Shoot twice, go home.” Reputed response of Swiss Army officer after being told that the German preWWI army was twice as big as the Swiss citizen army.
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[…] Having taken a couple days to rest my spine and assorted parts I decided I would try to get a few small things done. I started out working on my pair of boots,I wear some old Wolverine steel toe hikers,over a decade old now I think. One of them started having the bottom peel away from the upper. I located some stuff called shoe goo,very nasty with toulene etc. Roughed up the surfaces with some sandpaper and applied said product. Stuck an old shoe stretcher in the shoe and used a pair of C-clamps to press it all back together. Yeah I could probably come up with money for a new pair of shoes,but I don't walk that much anymore,so it would be kind of a waste. Did some more work on the clipboard target holder.Drilled out a couple holes with a holesaw and then used the milwaukee jigsaw to cut out the rest. Currently have it coated with the first coat,on one side,of Rustoleum enamel. Going to sneak out in a bit and check it. I think it's going to take a couple coats per side. Yes,I've taken pictures as I go along. Then dragged out the HW30S and zeroed the gun again,as I recently replaced the rings with some accushot high rings. They worked fine too,my neck strain is relieved. Light wind and some toulene aftermath made my groups questionable,but I think I got it close. Hearing a sound I don't like when I cock the gun.Going to have to pull off the stock and check to make sure the piece of nylon that prevents the cocking lever from rubbing the receiver,is still in place. If not I have to do surgery,damn it. In the news we have an example of restraint shown by our police officers. Nearly Two Dozen Miami Dade Cops Fired 377 Rounds at Two Unarmed Men in a Car – Hit & Run : Reason.com Damn clever those Japanese- Man held on suspicion of owning guns made with 3-D printer | The Japan Times Finally not all Europe is anti-gun I guesss. Observing the Swiss | The Arizona Rifleman […]
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