Experts call for a medical certificate requirement for purchasing firearms; Zurich Parliament rejects the inclusion of the “Right to Housing” in cantonal Constitution; and more Swiss news in our Tuesday roundup.
Experts call for a medical certificate requirement for purchasing firearms
Following the shooting that took place in Aarau in August, where one person was killed and several others injured, experts are calling for a change in the law governing firearms acquisition.
Given that the Aarau shooter had psychological problems and yet was able to buy weapons legally, experts say a medical certificate testifying to the buyer’s mental stability should be a condition for the purchase.
Widen the gap: Cyclists should have a larger maneouver room on public roads, study found
According to a study commissioned by the Transport and Environment Association (ATE), the average distance between a vehicle and a bicycle in Switzerland is 1.20 metres.
And more than a third of these maneuvers take place with a gap of less than 1 metre.
The study results show that 57 percent of respondents support a mandatory minimum distance of 1.50 meters, as is already the standard in many European countries
This view is particularly prevalent among regular cyclists (72 percent).
Zurich Parliament rejects the inclusion of the “Right to Housing” in cantonal Constitution
Zurich deputies have vetoed on Monday a parliamentary initiative to this effect, instigated by the Green Party.
Though deputy Silvia Rigon argued that the canton should play a more active role in the provision of housing and “finally take effective measures against the housing shortage,” opponents pointed out that statutory requirements would not generate new housing.
Such a rule “would not be possible to enforce,” either from the legal or logistics perspective, they said.
They do agree, however, that the canton should work towards improving framework conditions to facilitate more construction.
Switzerland to play without Xhaka over fake Covid certificate
Swiss national fottball team will have to play their next four Nations League matches without captain Granit Xhaka, who admitted Monday to having used a forged Covid vaccine certificate during the pandemic.
The 33-year-old midfielder admitted on his social media channels that he had presented a forged certificate to avoid mandatory vaccination during the Covid crisis.
“At the time, I was very worried about the issue of Covid-19 vaccination… I felt deep mistrust regarding the vaccine and was gripped by anxiety and doubt,” he said on Instagram.
“Today I clearly see that I made the wrong choice. It was a mistake. I am sorry,” he wrote, adding that he was “cooperating fully with the relevant authorities”.
The Swiss Football Association meanwhile announced that it had decided, in agreement with the player, that he would not join the Swiss national team in Belek in Turkey for a training camp starting Monday. (AFP)
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