After the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015, the EU decided to tighten firearms laws in member states and nations with EU agreements, such as Switzerland.

Unhappy, a group of gun owners decided to launch a referendum against the pending changes.

According to the organizers, the required number of 50,000 signatures has been presented to the administration before the 17 January 2019 cut-off date.

Switzerland’s government claims Swiss gun laws will remain essentially unchanged. It says the changes do not envisage psychological tests or a central gun registry. Initial fears that the changes would affect Switzerland’s hunting and shooting culture are unfounded, it said.

However, the initiators argue the changes infringe on Switzerland’s right to independently shape its own laws. In addition, they claim the resulting administration will be expensive.

The vote is likely to take place in May 2019.

More on this:

Initiative website (in French)

Federal Council press release (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now

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