Weapons Directive: A No vote would have consequences for security
On May 19, Switzerland, as a member of the Schengen and Dublin states, will vote on the implementation of the EU Weapons Directive in this country. The Association of Swiss Police Officers recommends abstaining from the vote. However, a "No" vote by Switzerland would have consequences for security in our country, the association warns.
In 2013, the European Union decided to tighten its gun laws. Because Switzerland is a member of the Schengen Association Agreement, it must adopt these tightenings (cf. Voting template). It has until May 31, 2019 to do so. If it fails to do so, this will set in motion a process that will automatically lead to the termination of the Schengen and Dublin agreements. Unless the joint committee with representatives from Switzerland and the EU unanimously decides within 90 days to continue cooperation.
Consequences for safety
In the event of a no vote by the sovereign and no agreement in the joint committee, Schengen and Dublin membership would expire at the end of November 2019. "The VSPB has always fought for this agreement. If it were to be dropped, we would be virtually blind," emphasizes VSPB President Johanna Bundi Ryser. If it were excluded, the police and border guards would no longer have access to the Schengen and Dublin information and search systems. The Schengen Information System (SIS) alone is queried up to 350,000 times a year in Switzerland during checks at the border, at airports or in the country's interior. Last year, around 19,000 search hits were achieved in Switzerland and abroad. "We consider these tools indispensable for our members," stresses the VSPB president, adding, "The VSPB management respects the freedom of expression of all police officers. However, after a sound analysis, all will come to the conclusion that an exclusion from these agreements would have serious consequences for security.
The vote has caused great waves in the run-up. The Association of Swiss Police Officers (VSPB) writes that even among police officers, opinions differ greatly. For this reason, the VSPB management recently decided to give its members the go-ahead to vote.
The Federal Council and the majority of parliament recommend a "yes" vote, because the partial revision would bring selective improvements in protection against weapons misuse.
