Marco and Bill in line for rifle check, before shooting.....

.....I hope the Germans don't invade us while we are here.

Bill getting his rifle ready for shooting.....

.....I don't think the Swiss Army will be calling me up soon.

Marco and Bill discussing stragety between shots....

.....I need a lot more practice and instruction.

Marco and Bill shooting next to each other....

.....6 shots in one minutes time....and trying to hit the target besides.

Bill shooting at Feldschiessen...

.....trying to see the target as well as shoot at the same time.

A hamburger for the winner.....

Marco scored a 64 out of a possible 72 and received a medal.

Feldschiessen -Annual Shooting skills exercise

September 22nd, 2010

Swiss Shooting Traditions — A Nation of Riflemen

In Switzerland, universal military training is required of young men, and after military service, Swiss men retain their military weapons, including assault rifles, in their homes. In addition, target shooting remains a hugely popular activity among the Swiss. Though it has a population of just 7,000,000, Switzerland boasts over 2,000 rifle ranges. Each year, close to 200,000 Swiss participate in the Eidgenössisches Feldschiessen (annual shooting skills exercise). A several hundred-year-old tradition, the Feldschiessen (aka Tiro Federale in Campagna) is the largest shooting event in the world.
Shooting service rifles at 300m is typical at many Feldschiessen matches. Some Swiss ranges boast the latest high-tech equipment. At one of the popular ranges, 400 electronic targets served thousands of shooters. And get this — the Swiss government provides free ammunition at each year’s Feldschiessen. Contrast that with California — which recently passed legislation requiring citizens to provide thumbprints and personal data just to purchase ammo. Switzerland views armed citizens as a vital national asset. California views shooters as a pariah class that should be eliminated.

Swiss Gun-Control Advocates Call for Change
Despite the popularity of shooting in Switzerland, and the nation’s tradition of maintaining an armed citizenry, there are groups seeking to restrict gun ownership and require that military arms be removed from homes and stored in military barracks. Both sides of the issue are covered in a video report from World Radio Switzerland. You should definitely watch the video. In it, Marc Heim, a Swiss citizen, explains that the Swiss government seeks to maintain “a very high state of readiness for the Swiss military and population. The [goal] has always been that, within 24 to 48 hours, Switzerland could mobilize a pretty large army.” Heim still has the Stgw 57 (7.5×55) rifle he trained with, as well as the rifles used by his father, and grandfather before him. Heim’s young son, in his 20s, keeps a modern, fully-automatic Sig 550. That is the rifle Marc Heim and his son would take to the Feldschiessen.

CLICK HERE for Story and VIDEO on Swiss Gun Tradition (Highly Recommended)

Reasons for Armed Citizenry in Switzerland
Marc Heim believes that it is important for Switzerland to retain a “citizen army”. His belief was strengthened after he visited a Holocaust museum: “That’s when it all hit me… I want to be free and never in a situation where they could just march us off to ovens or prisons… or just take away our freedom. The key to freedom is the ability to be able to defend yourself, and if you don’t have the tools to do that then you are at the mercy of anyone who wants to put you away. And the tools for that are guns.”

We saw this swan family....

.... swimming for safety.

This unique scupture.....

was made out of pieces of drift wood, in Evian, France.

Leaving the City of Geneva....

.....the water fountain if visible for miles.

We crossed Lake Geneva....

....3 times on this boat.

Here we are infront of the....

.....Evian Water Co. in Evian, France.

Here's Bill getting his.....

....free Evian water.  His Dad would be proud of him.

Our trip to Zermatt, Switzerland....

...to see the Matterhorn and this beautiful city.

The beautiful city of Zermatt, Switzerland.....

.....is a tourist's shopping paradise, plus cars/trucks are not allowed.  (No pollution or noise)

One of our stops on the way...

....to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn.

Just one of the beautiful valleys.....

....on the train ride up the to see the Matterhorn.

At the most famous mountain in Switzerland...

.....the Matterhorn is very impressive.

Amazing art work from.....

.....a book that is 400 years old.

I thought our mission was in China for a minute....

....but we are just picking up this rickshaw for Marco's Birthday.