Will Switzerland Be Gobbled Up by EU 'Values'?

Other than having some of the most breathtaking mountain panoramas in the world, the Swiss have been known for centuries for three things, i.e., their neutrality and fierce independence, gun rights, and democratic values that have produced one of the most economically vibrant nations in the world.

While the rest of Western Europe plunged into decline economically, militarily, and politically, Switzerland thrived. This fact was lost on a recent writer of an article that appeared in the U.K.'s 'The Independent,' who claims that Switzerland may be Europe's 'heart of darkness' due to its intent in recent days to do something to stem the tide of a burgeoning immigration problem.

The writer also failed to mention that the rest of Western Europe's failure to deal with this very problem has brought it to the brink of disintegration and chaos at the hands of Islamic extremists.

It would seem clear, then, that Europe's 'heart of darkness' exists not within Switzerland, but within the Houses of Parliament in London, Paris, and Berlin, as well as within the corridors of the EU's Parliament in Brussels.

It would also be a big mistake to fail to mention that while 'enlightened' Europe dealt rather unsuccessfully with Adolf Hitler, Switzerland managed to avoid the stain, the stench, and the statism of totalitarianism.

The Swiss stayed out of WWII not because they did not detest Adolf Hitler and the Nazis but because their accepted policy on national defense forbade an attack on a foreign government unless they were attacked first.

Switzerland was the only nation in that part of Europe that Hitler did not invade. Neither did Stalin from the West.

The reasons most often cited by scholars for Switzerland's escape from attack are two-fold: Switzerland's unfathomably rugged terrain, and the nation's long-standing policy that all adult males belong to the militia for a specified number of years, which mandates that each male keep a government-issued fully-automatic rifle.

If a militiaman is an officer, he is required to be part of the militia 5 years longer than others and must keep a semi-automatic pistol in his home.

Had either Hitler or Stalin attempted to invade Switzerland, the two vast unknown variables would come staring them squarely in the face--navigating the rugged mountains would have proved nearly impossible and deadly, and facing a citizenry where every single male is armed would have surely produced massive bloodshed.

To this day, Switzerland's policy of an armed citizens militia still stands. Yet there are signs of opposition. Globalism, the influence of EU values, and immigration are all taking their toll on traditional Swiss values--values that have kept the nation free from invasion and economically strong.

A recent poll in Switzerland suggests that 2 out of 3 Swiss residents want a change in the nation's policy toward firearms. A 'Green' member of the nation's Federal Assembly wants the guns out of the homes. A proposal has been put forth which mandates that the firearms be kept at various government locations and that gun registration be implemented for private ownership.

As it stands now, no permit is required to buy a gun, although one must obtain a 'carry permit' in order to carry a firearm openly. Some of the nation's cantons--the equivalent of a 'state' in the U.S.--are very liberal in their issuance policies, meaning of course, that government monitoring is kept to a minimum.

Although Switzerland is one of the most heavily armed countries in the free world, the crime rate is very low. Deaths by firearms are amazingly low, most of which are suicides and the occasional murders of family members. Due to the rarity of these firearms deaths, the government does not bother to keep statistical information on such things.

When the country's total population of 6 million is taken into consideration, plus the fact that there are upwards of 3 million firearms owned by the citizens, the number of firearms deaths per year--an estimated 300 at the most--is minuscule.

Switzerland is not a part of the European Union, although many in the nation's younger generation desire closer ties to the EU. Many believe that eventually the Euro will become the nation's currency, although there is strong opposition to such a plan.

The creeping crawl of the EU and globalism is having an impact on the Swiss, no doubt. Under intense pressure from outside sources, Swiss banks have begun to selectively cooperate with foreign authorities in providing data to law enforcement personnel.

Historically this information was kept strictly confidential. However, the Swiss are under intense pressure from the global community to be a 'good neighbor' by cooperating more fully with members of the international community.

The pressure of the international community gives one pause to wonder if Swiss independence will withstand the onslaughts of leftists who wish to change society from top to bottom. Part of the problem has been immigration. Although Switzerland has been able to control its borders admirably, the issue of legal immigration is one of great curiosity.

Upwards of 25 percent of the Swiss workforce is foreign--one of the highest in Europe. With immigrants crowding into the country whose values do not mirror those of the traditional Swiss, the leftists have had natural allies in their attempts to reconstruct Swiss society.

So far Switzerland has been able to fight off the wolves in spite of the fact that they have invaded the hen house.

It is to be noted that the Founding Fathers of the United States government expressed deep admiration for the Swiss ideal of limited government. For centuries the Swiss have managed to keep that ideal intact. The country is known for a very small and limited central government bureaucracy, and the citizens are often called upon to address political concerns through national referenda.

The leftists are presently attempting to use the tools of democracy, such as the referendum, to implement very un-democratic policies, such as the confiscation of firearms.

A pertinent question arises to the forefront as a thorough consideration is given to these weighty matters: if something isn't broke, why fix it? Switzerland's traditional values of independence, democracy, economic prowess, and gun rights have kept the nation safe from aggression, crime, and economic decline.

This is no time to begin changing one of the most admirable societies ever seen in the history of the world.