Parliament puts the brakes on the federal government’s attempt to save on rifle ammunition
Published: Tuesday, Dec 12th 2023, 11:31
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The federal government will continue to subsidize so-called GP-11 rifle ammunition at 70 centimes per shot, not just 40 centimes. This was decided by the Swiss parliament, thus putting an end to an attempt by the federal government to cut costs.
On Tuesday, the National Council adopted a corresponding motion by Werner Salzmann of the Bernese SVP Council of States, which the Council of States had already approved in September.
The Federal Council wanted to reduce the subsidy for GP-11 ammunition at the beginning of 2024 following a recommendation by the Swiss Federal Audit Office. The plan was for the Confederation to subsidize GP-11 ammunition to the same extent as GP-90 ammunition, which is fired in the 90 assault rifle.
Salzmann countered that many shooters were once again using the 57 assault rifle, carbines and long rifles, and therefore GP-11 ammunition, for off-duty shooting. This is after various aids for these army weapons have been approved in recent years. These have led to greater precision for these weapons.
The shooting clubs are threatened with a loss of members if the shooters who use the aforementioned weapons have to pay 30 centimes more per shot after the subsidy cut. Doubling the price from 30 to 60 centimes per shot is not in the interests of the army or the country. It weakens the will to defend the army.
The Federal Council requested that the motion be rejected. It is true that the federal government is saving 3.5 million a year by reducing the subsidy on GP-11 ammunition. However, it is also planning to pay shooting clubs higher contributions for the compulsory program, field shooting, young shooters' courses and technical courses with the assault rifle 90.
The corresponding additional expenditure would amount to around CHF 2 million compared to 2019. The bottom line is that the federal government would have saved CHF 1.5 million per year.
Priska Seiler Graf (SP/ZH), the spokesperson for the National Council's security committee, pointed out on Tuesday that the solution proposed by the Federal Council had been worked out with the Swiss Shooting Sport Association.
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