Yes, it is Switzerland and they carry a semi automatic. I saw a program on it and loved it. The guy was riding his bike with a semi-automatic strapped accross his back. They have no standing army and it is every citizen's duty to be ready to defend his country. They actually take turns at "active duty" and have to carry the gun with them when it is their turn.

I live in Canada and find the attitude towards gun control a placibo. The only thing this achieves is the good guys are unarmed while the criminals are. They don't pay attention to law, duh!

Just today I found out that an ex-work colleage lost his 19 year old brother who was shot in Edmonton a few days ago. So gun control does not really work.

Switzerland's attitude that every able bodied man has to know how to shoot and be ready to do so is healthy. No one is going to protect your sorry ass better than yourself. Any criminal there knows that you won't have to wait for the cops to get there. Farming out protection to someone else is unreliable for that reason and creates either a false sense of security or a police state.

That said, I don't think 12 year olds should carry guns "cause they want respect" either.

I like the Swiss education and training balance of this issue better than the Canadian or the US attitudes.

As far as Dick is concerned, I knew as soon as I heard the story that the media would milk it for all it's got.

Reminds me of the SNL episode "Buckwheat is dead" after the shooting of President Raygun.