Where should an Assault rifle be stored?

[Flo]

Or better, stop the charade of maintaining an army altogether. Of course, it wouldn't be popular with many Swiss ladies, who rely on their husbands being out of the house for 2 weeks every two years in order to be able to redecorate without interference (that's the reason they give, anyway ...).

 

[Ryokan]

Norway has been in a similar situation, as we also have a sizable militia, based on the experiences of the German invasion. We were slow in mobilizing the army in 1940, and paid very dearly for it.

So after the war, Heimevernet (the Home Guard) was founded, a local militia all over the country with reserve soldiers keeping their weapons, ammo and gear at home. However, over the years since the war, the Home Guard weapons have caused many deaths, from family murders to suicides, and has been used for crime. A lot of them also ended up in foreign hands, especially the IRA.

A few years ago, there was a major change done to the Home Guard. The militia soldiers still keep their weapons and gear at home, but the ammo and the firing pin spring is kept at military depots, only to be given out in case of an invasion.

As a Home Guard soldier myself, I'm of two minds about it. Without actual working weapons, the whole idea of the Home Guard becomes irrelevant. Now we have to get to military depots to be issued gear like the regular army, and this defeats the whole purpose of the Home Guard. On the other hand, the chance of an invasion, or any military action against Norway that requires rapid deployment all over the country, is rather slim, and all the crime and deaths that comes with the ability of rapid deployment might not be worth it.

All in all, I think I will have to reluctantly agree with the way it is now.

And if the Swedes starts to get uppity again, we could always reverse the policy and let the Home Guard have working weapons..

 

[Dave Rogers]

A few years ago, there was a major change done to the Home Guard. The militia soldiers still keep their weapons and gear at home, but the ammo and the firing pin spring is kept at military depots, only to be given out in case of an invasion.

Wouldn't it be qicker for the depot to keep the whole weapon, then the militia deployment time would be shortened by however long it takes to re-fit a firing pin spring?

Dave

 

[su27]

the idea of having a mass fundamentally infantry militia as an effective fighting force has been recognised as useless since the Crimean War

Except Vietnam?

 

[Thunder]

perhaps the gov. should give you guys all secure lockers to keep them in. so kids can't get to the rifles.

 

[Resume]

They should be kept where they can be accessed with the greatest expediency.

 

[malbui]

Or better, stop the charade of maintaining an army altogether. Of course, it wouldn't be popular with many Swiss ladies, who rely on their husbands being out of the house for 2 weeks every two years in order to be able to redecorate without interference (that's the reason they give, anyway ...).

While the many handsome young foreign men who work in Switzerland have no such military obligations. Just saying

 

[DC]

¨


The average Swiss citizen, when notified 1 month in advance he has to report for his two-yearly 2 weeks service period, spends on average

- 1 week whining about it, trying to find an excuse not to go (work, illness, 5th grandmother on her deathbed, whatever) and having his boss write his captain about it.
- 1 week hoping for a positive answer.
- 1 week fuming about the negative answer.
- 1 frantic week trying to remember where his rucksack, uniform - including the damned belt -, rifle, various part of said rifle, ammunitions, and other stuff he'll need for inspection are stored (cellar ? attic ? garage ? daughter's house ? ...), then pestering his wife/girlfriend into having it cleaned and ironed, or more often to buy new shirts, pants, shoes, and trying to find an excuse for not finding that ****** belt !


Brought to you courtesy from years of experiences with a father, brother, 5 cousins, and several friends ...

oh and i thought everyone is proud and happy to serve

 

[DC]

Or better, stop the charade of maintaining an army altogether.

would be the best i think

Of course, it wouldn't be popular with many Swiss ladies, who rely on their husbands being out of the house for 2 weeks every two years in order to be able to redecorate without interference (that's the reason they give, anyway ...).

 

[DC]

Wouldn't it be qicker for the depot to keep the whole weapon, then the militia deployment time would be shortened by however long it takes to re-fit a firing pin spring?

Dave

yeah thats what i thought too

 

[bozothedeathmachine]

While the many handsome young foreign men who work in Switzerland have no such military obligations. Just saying

No, we don't.

oh and i thought everyone is proud and happy to serve

The amount of effort I've seen some guys put into getting out of service is impressive. If they put that much effort into the service in the first place, Swiss would have the absolute best army in the world.

 

[DC]

perhaps the gov. should give you guys all secure lockers to keep them in. so kids can't get to the rifles.

i am not aware of any accident with the Stgw 57/90 by children.

 

[Naddig74]

They should be kept where they can be accessed with the greatest expediency.

By that logic, you should have the thing slung over your shoulder at all times.

 

[Resume]

By that logic, you should have the thing slung over your shoulder at all times.

How do you know that I don't?

 

[Naddig74]

How do you know that I don't?

I don't.

 

[Flo]

oh and i thought everyone is proud and happy to serve

There's an excellent documentary, "L'homme des Casernes" by Jacqueline Veuve (Casernment Man), that shows the passion of the average Swiss citizen accomplishing his patriotic duty, encouraged by officers whose intelligence shines through their every word ... It has done wonders to make wifes/girlfriends/daughters much more tolerant of the yearly whining about having to return ...

I heard it from several Swiss colleagues at the time of the last vote about the army suppression ... made my jaw drop too.

 

[Flo]

While the many handsome young foreign men who work in Switzerland have no such military obligations. Just saying

If only that was the reason. The sad thing is, the numerous ladies who told me so were at worst guilty of some criminal redecorating and a bit of reckless shopping/hairdressing.

 

[Resume]

I don't.

Check.

 

[Naddig74]

Check.

So, are you saying that you do carry an assault rifle slung over your shoulder at all times?

 

[DC]

There's an excellent documentary, "L'homme des Casernes" by Jacqueline Veuve (Casernment Man), that shows the passion of the average Swiss citizen accomplishing his patriotic duty, encouraged by officers whose intelligence shines through their every word ... It has done wonders to make wifes/girlfriends/daughters much more tolerant of the yearly whining about having to return ...



I heard it from several Swiss colleagues at the time of the last vote about the army suppression ... made my jaw drop too.

sounds interesting, thanks.