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47.DOC
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1995-01-16
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ESSAY 47
A PROPOSED SOLUTION
OF THE GUN CONTROL PROBLEM
THE HELVETIC CONFEDERATION may hold the ideal solution
for gun control here in America. In 1515, this nation, now
commonly called Switzerland, was defeated militarily after an
attempt for expansion. Switzerland then renounced the policy
of armed aggression, and adopted a policy of armed neutrali-
ty. It has had no war for 470 years! It now serves the
nations of the world as a neutral and safe place for peace
talks.
However, the reason that other nations have not tried
to take her is not so much found in the goodness of their
hearts. Switzerland has a very effective deterrent. It does
not HAVE an army--it IS an army! It has a standing army of
only 2,000 full-time soldiers. However, EVERY able-bodied
man, 20-50 years of age, serves in the Army Reserve, and
must serve three weeks per year on active duty. Excellent
defense plans and a well-trained and well-armed reserve
operate as an effective deterrent. Invading armies would
pay a high price to take it.
Men, ages 20-60, who do not qualify for military
service, along with women volunteers, serve in the civil
defense system. The civil defense people maintain public
shelters that would insure a high survival rate in case of
a nuclear attack. The civil defense force also educates the
public for survival.
"It's all over if we have an atomic attack," appears to
be the assumption in the US. The truth is that We could
survive well, if we had a system like the Swiss! OUR GOVERN-
MENT HAS LET US DOWN IN THIS AREA. [Read Ronald L. Cruit and
Robert L. Cruit, MD, SURVIVE THE COMING NUCLEAR WAR: HOW TO
DO IT (New York: Stein and Day, 1984)].
Let's refer back to Switzerland's universal military
service. Since the men of Switzerland are screened and
trained, the weapons are in the RIGHT hands. The few who
are incompetent to handle weapons are identified and known
locally.
Why couldn't we do the same thing? Universal male
military service would help us in at least nine ways:
1. THE NATION WOULD BE MORE SECURE.
2. OUR TROOPS WOULD BE BETTER TRAINED IN CASE OF ARMED
CONFLICE. IT WOULD BE IMMORAL TO SEND OUR SONS INTO
COMBAT WITH INADEQUATE TRAINING. This has happened in
the past. It would probably happen if we were to have a
national emergency now.
3. IT WOULD INSURE AGAINST TAKEOVER BY RADICAL PEOPLE,
POLITICALLY LEFT OR RIGHT. (Hitler first had all guns
registered, and then simply picked them up and seized
control of Germany). Each man would keep his own weapon
secured. He must keep his weapon with himself or locked
-up at home.
4. NEARLY ILL SOCIOPATHS AND THE MENTALLY ILL WOULD BE
IDENTIFIED. These people would not have access to
weapons. The gun control problem would be largely re-
solved!
5. IT WOULD BE COST EFFECTIVE. The savings in money
could be applied to the national debt and to the produc-
tion of goods and services. (The Swiss have a very
strong economy. Whereas the American dollar has contin-
ually lost value through inflation and foreign exchange
loss, the Swiss Franc has gained.)
6. OUR LARGE FULL-TIME MILITARY COULD BE CUT FURTHER, AS
RESERVE STRENGTH INCREASED. Most of the reserve should
be combat arms in the National Guard. Since the National
Guard is under the control of state governors, this
would scatter power and reduce the possiblity of power
abuse.
7. A STRONG DETERRENT WOULD HELP MAINTAIN WORLD PEACE.
8. MORE OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY WOULD BE DIRECTED IN
RAISING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF ITS CITIZENS.
9. CIVILIAN-MILITARY CONFLICT IN THE U S WOULD END,
SINCE THE ENTIRE MALE POPULATION WOULD BE CITIZEN-
SOLDIERS. We already have the infrastructure in place.
These ideas have been tested and approved by the Swiss.
The Swiss have already " worked out the bugs" for us. I
believe that they would work well for us. Are we too stupid
or arrogant to learn from the successful plans of other
nations?
Sources
Special thanks to The Honorable Edouard Brunner,
Embassy of Switzerland, 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Suite 1200,
Washington, DC 20008, for research help.
Cruit, Ronald L., and Cruit, Robert L., MD. SURVIVING THE
COMING NUCLEAR WAR: HOW TO DO IT. New York: Stein and
Day, Publishers, 1984.
Jones, Michael Arthur. SWISS BANK ACCOUNTS. Blue Ridge
Summit, PA: Liberty House (Tab Books), 1990.
END