Hey - Has anyone heard that if you are a Swiss citizen when you turn 18 you automatically become a member of the army and the government sends you a machine gun? I know this sounds crazy but a friend of mine told me this and I wanted to verify.<BR><BR>Carla

Hey Signor Postino, don't let me down tomorrow. Bring that bad boy in the mail to me tomorrow, so I can really "blow out" all those candles!<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Alfredo, in Lugano.<BR>

don't be an ass - is it true?

Yes, it is true. But you have to pass a Swiss Language Proficiency Test first. Then you get the machine gun.

No matter how hard I try I just can not locate a school that teaches the Swiss language...they all look like me I am crazy when I tell them I want to learn to speak Swiss...darn it why do those Swiss make it so hard to get ahold of that there machine gun?

An article that appeared in the National Review (online) dated October 30, 2001 states this as true - with the exception that the age is 20, not 18.<BR><BR>Here's the link: http://www.nationalreview.com/kopel/kopel103001.shtml

This was taken from the website:<BR><BR>To this day, every male, when he turns 20, is issued a full automatic military rifle and required to keep it at home. Universal service in the Militia Army is required. When a Swiss is no longer required to serve, he may keep his rifle (converted from automatic to semi-automatic) or his pistol (if he served as an officer).

How come nobody wished me Happy Birthday today?<BR><BR>Gonna have to mow me down some cows er sumthin...<BR>

"The Swiss vote to keep their army" for more information and video go to the www.swissinfo.org site, click on swiss world, the article is from 01.02.2002 (February 1, 2002), if you are interested.