Traveling to Switzerland

[stratosurfer]

All,
I'm traveling to Switzerland for 10 days late this coming summer and was hoping for some guidance on the possibility of taking my CCW and CHL for 'safe' travels. Does anyone have any data on Switzerland's rules on foreign 'visitors' on a foreign CHL carrying in their country. I noticed that firearms laws are actually quite citizen friendly in Switzerland and Austria, just not sure if a foreigner has any shot :) at carrying while visiting.


Thanks

Mark

[Keith B]

First welcome to the forum.

There is no reciprocity with your Texas CHL and any international country. Switzerland has their own carry license, but will not recognize your Texas CHL. The only way you can normally travel abroad with firearms is for hunting purposes and there are extremely strict regulations on the type, etc. That can include registering the firearms ahead of times with the country and specifying the hunt you would be going on.

Bottom line, no good way to take your handgun to Switzerland for persoanl protection, and no way at all to carry it around.

Here is a good primer on Switzerland and their gun rules http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politi ... witzerland" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stratosurfer]

Keith,
Thanks, I wasn't sure. I am to the point of feeling uncomfortable traveling abroad as I routinely do, into countries that don't allow the law abiders to carry, or at least own self defense weapons. Switzerland meets the test! At least it's good to know the citizens there are legally walking armed.

Mark

[OldCannon]

No. You absolutely cannot do that. Switzerland is very firearms friendly to their citizens, but foreign ownership is extremely restricted, as well as CC permits.

Europe is another cluster of countries and cultures, almost all with extremely strict rules about guns or ANY kind of weapons. Don't even think about it, seriously.

P.S. -- I've spent time in Switzerland. Extremely friendly people, fascinating mix of cultures, beautiful country, and VERY expensive. Take a camera instead of a gun, a much wiser choice

[JJVP]

Purchase a victorinox when you arrive.. makes a nice conversation piece when you get home !

You are going to have to be more specific than that. Victorinox makes Swiss army knives, cutlery, luggage, watches, etc

http://www.swissarmy.com/us" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[stratosurfer]

Probably get the wife and I a Swatch and a Swiss Army Knife. Can I carry those over there...???

[blackopstx]

Hello,

Is there a good resource online as far as rules and regulations regarding bringing a rifle or handgun into another country to hunt?

[Keith B]

Hello,

Is there a good resource online as far as rules and regulations regarding bringing a rifle or handgun into another country to hunt?

It changes from country to country. If you plan to go hunt, then find a guide service in that country that you think you would use and they will direct you on whether you can bring your own firearms or not. Most of the time because of the high cost of shipping or restrictive rules it is just better to use firearms provided by the guide service. The only ones I have heard of that take their own high dollar rifles are the true big game trophy hunters that spend tens of thousands of dollars to take cape buffalo, lions, hippos, yada yada.

[blackopstx]

Hello,

Is there a good resource online as far as rules and regulations regarding bringing a rifle or handgun into another country to hunt?

It changes from country to country. If you plan to go hunt, then find a guide service in that country that you think you would use and they will direct you on whether you can bring your own firearms or not. Most of the time because of the high cost of shipping or restrictive rules it is just better to use firearms provided by the guide service. The only ones I have heard of that take their own high dollar rifles are the true big game trophy hunters that spend tens of thousands of dollars to take cape buffalo, lions, hippos, yada yada.

Hey, Tanks for the info Keith....I have a buddy who hunted the 5 dangerous game of Africa he's got a cool trophy room!

[JALLEN]

"Switzerland" is an old Hapsburg Empire phrase that means "small but expensive." It is so unbelievably charming you won't be able to shake the notion that it was built by Walt Disney. It has nearly everything but flat ground and is a civil engineers paradise!

We have spent several trips to Switzerland agog at the scenery. My wife is French and most of the time we have been in the southern French part, near Geneva-Montrieux around Lac LeMond, but we have driven all over the place, just magnificent, just don't leave home without plenty of money!

Nearly everyone speaks English and two of the three languages, French, German and Italian. It is where wealthy European businessmen take their French girlfriends, extraordinarily easy on the eyes for the most part.

The trains are a hoot, everything from the high speed Eurorail types to the small regional and local trains, and most amazingly to Americans, they run on time!

Switzerland is our favorite place, next to France, I suppose.

There are a couple of Swiss on SigForum who met up with a US traveler a few months ago and took them shooting, reportedly a tremendous good time. http://sigforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/ ... 7570009272" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Maybe you can hook up with those folks. I sure would try if I were going!

[PappaGun]

...It changes from country to country. If you plan to go hunt, then find a guide service in that country that you think you would use and they will direct you on whether you can bring your own firearms or not. Most of the time because of the high cost of shipping or restrictive rules it is just better to use firearms provided by the guide service...

I know I'm (slightly? ) off topic here.
This is exactly right.
I have a friend who does the big game hunts.
He won't use the guide's rifles because he's not familiar with them and doesn't trust the accuracy.
You get in and out of the country pretty fast and have no time for sighting or to become familiar with a new rifle.
He has to register each rifle and the brand and ammo count he is going to bring with him months in advance.
It's a huge hassle but it's their rules and you gotta live by em or you will end up in one of those "Locked Up Abroad' episodes
and spend more money on a defense than you ever thought possible.