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Switzerland is hunting for water pistols

She ordered colored water guns on Amazon for her children. Instead of the package, the letter from the police came with the summons for questioning. What’s behind the Swiss authorities’ hunt for toy guns.

Confiscated at Swiss customs: The “Mini” water pistol from the online retailer Amazon bore a deceptive resemblance to a police service weapon.

Amazon (edited by NZZaS)

For many parents, Christmas begins in autumn. This is also the case for a mother from a Zurich community who starts shopping for gifts early. Your children want a “cool water gun” under the tree. The mother and housewife, who wishes to remain anonymous for this article, found what she was looking for on the German platform of the online retailer Amazon.

On Amazon.de you will find a large selection in all colors and shapes. Knowing her children’s preferences, she chooses a “mini” water gun in blue and gray and an electric water gun in white, red and orange. Both are advertised as fun objects for children and adults, and both feature photos of families hosing each other down while laughing. Both also state that the products are delivered to Switzerland.

But then the shock follows: Instead of the package, the mother receives a letter from the cantonal police. Contents: a “summons for questioning as an accused person”. The reason given is “criminal proceedings relating to offenses against the Weapons Act, or the import of a reportable imitation weapon without an import permit”.

The woman is terrified, but doesn’t understand what she could have done wrong when she bought the water pistols. In consultation with her husband, both of whom come from Anglo-Saxon countries, she decides to go to the interrogation alone and without a lawyer.

Ridiculous approach?

During the course of the questioning, she is shown that the water pistols she ordered could be mistaken for real firearms. And so that according to Swiss law they are equivalent to real weapons. The acquisition could only have taken place with appropriate authorization. As a consumer, she is told that she is responsible for ensuring that the products she orders comply with Swiss law.

The woman describes that the survey was formally correct and factual. However, she herself became more and more emotional and cried for almost the entire conversation. After the interview, she signed the minutes of the interview, which she still doesn’t have. Your case should now be with the responsible public prosecutor’s office; it would probably be possible to have it dismissed or receive a penalty order with a fine.

At first glance, the authorities’ actions seem ridiculous. Does Swiss customs have nothing better to do than confiscate toy guns? The cantonal police and public prosecutor’s office also often complain about too much work – no wonder, one is tempted to say, when they also have to take care of such trivialities.

Switzerland is hunting for water pistols

Fun and games for parents and children: This is how the online mail order company Amazon in Germany advertises the “Mini” water pistols they ordered.

It’s not quite that simple, respondents point out. A police officer remembers pulling his gun on 13- or 14-year-olds while on patrol. At that time, a gunman was reported running around. These young people made weapons out of wood themselves and painted them based on photo templates. From a distance they looked like real weapons, and the young people were also wearing camouflage clothing. In such situations, it is a matter of luck when you realize that it is not a real weapon, said the police officer.

Upon request, both the Zurich Cantonal Police and the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) refer to a Fedpol leaflet. This shows photos of toy guns that are permitted and those that are not.

These weapons are toy weapons and are therefore permitted: From the information sheet for the trade in imitation, blank-firing and soft-air weapons.

These weapons are toy weapons and are therefore permitted: From the information sheet for the trade in imitation, blank-firing and soft-air weapons.

Fedpol

If you compare the photos, the differences are not clearly visible to the layperson. The water pistols ordered and the permitted toy weapons listed in the leaflet look very similar. Both are colored, both look like a plastic product. In fact, each case is an individual decision, as we can hear.

The electric water pistol is similar to the Uzi assault rifle, says a police officer.

The electric water pistol is similar to the Uzi assault rifle, says a police officer.

Amazon Germany

However, the decisive factor in whether a toy weapon is withdrawn from circulation by customs is primarily the shape. People who looked at the water pistols in question said that the “Mini” water pistol in particular looked deceptively similar to the classic police service pistol, including in terms of size. But the electric water pistol is also not harmless, according to a police officer, because its shape as a whole is similar to the Uzi assault rifle. The Israeli submachine gun is considered one of the most famous in the world.

Regularly in summer

The color, on the other hand, has little meaning. A member of the army emphasizes that there are also real pistols in pink. And summarizes the seemingly strange situation: In Switzerland, real weapons are allowed to look like toy weapons, but vice versa, toy weapons are not allowed to look real. Does that make sense?

Yes, emphasizes a police officer, pointing out the relatively low rate of homicides with weapons in Switzerland compared to other countries with a similar number of weapons per household. This is due to the strict local gun laws, but also because people in this country pay a lot of attention to safety regulations when dealing with weapons, says the police officer.

The case described is not an isolated case. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) does not keep statistics on the seizure of toy pistols and rifles. However, water pistols are “regularly detected” mainly in the summer months and could be confused with real weapons due to their appearance, according to the BAZG. If such shipments were seized, the police would have to clarify the background, which would also include questioning. The responsible public prosecutor then makes a decision.

Parents in Switzerland are faced with a dilemma. Since only very childish-looking toy weapons are allowed to be sold in this country, parents quickly end up on foreign websites. Nobody wants to comment on whether less strict rules apply in Germany. However, it is clear that there are huge country-specific differences. In California you can buy real weapons in the children’s section of some stores.

It would be helpful for consumers if retailers pointed out the applicable Swiss law. An Amazon spokeswoman simply states that “Customer satisfaction is our top priority and we work hard to create a great shopping experience. If customers have problems with their orders, we recommend that they contact our customer service directly so that we can investigate the matter and take appropriate action.”

For the mother in our example, one thing is clear: she will never order toy guns on the Internet again.

detail photograph

* How might cultural understandings‍ of play and childhood development influence attitudes towards toy ⁣guns?

## Open-Ended Questions for Discussion

This article raises several interesting points about⁢ toy ​guns, Swiss ⁢law, and ⁢cultural differences.​ Here are some open-ended​ questions​ designed to spark discussion and invite‍ diverse ⁢perspectives:

**Section 1: Safety vs. Realism**

* The article mentions that Swiss ⁣law prioritizes the distinction between real and toy weapons for safety reasons. Do you agree with this approach? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks?

* Could there be a ⁢middle​ ground? How could toy guns ⁢be designed to be more recognizable as toys without compromising their play‌ value?

* How does the case ‌of the water pistols highlight the potential ⁢for misinterpretation and unintended consequences?

**Section 2:​ Cultural Differences ⁢and Parental Choices**

* The article contrasts Swiss regulations with those⁤ in countries like Germany and the US. What factors might contribute ⁤to these differences in regulations and cultural norms ⁢surrounding toy guns?

* As a parent, how⁢ would you⁤ navigate the ⁤complexities of purchasing toy guns for your ‌children, considering the legal restrictions and cultural context?

* Do‌ you think⁤ toy gun regulations ⁤should vary based on age ‍group? Why or why not?

**Section 3: Responsibility and Awareness**

* Who⁤ is ‌ultimately responsible for ensuring that toy guns are‌ used safely and responsibly? Parents? Manufacturers? Retailers?

* What role should⁣ education and public awareness play in addressing the concerns surrounding ‌toy guns?

* How can online retailers ‍better inform consumers about the specific ‌laws and regulations applicable to toy guns in different⁣ countries?

**Section 4: Broader Societal Implications**

* This article touches upon the issue ‍of gun violence. How ⁣do‌ you think the presence of realistic-looking toy guns in society can contribute to or detract from discussions about gun ⁤safety and control?

* Do you believe that restricting access to certain types of toy guns is a form of censorship or a​ necessary measure to protect public ‌safety?

* How can we create ‍a culture that promotes responsible play and encourages critical thinking about‍ the potential impact of toy​ weaponry on ‌children’s development and perceptions?

These​ are just some starting points.‍ The goal is ‍to encourage a nuanced and thoughtful conversation about a complex issue⁣ with no easy answers.

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