Swiss to keep guns at home

SWITZERLAND, which has the highest rate of suicide by firearms in Europe, voted to hold fast to its long-standing tradition of letting citizens keep army-issue weapons at home.

A referendum, launched by a coalition of non-governmental groups, religious authorities and centre-left parties, sought to get the weapons stored in armouries instead.

The initiative also wanted to abolish the practice of allowing those on military service to keep their government-issue assault rifles even after they leave the army.