How many weapons are recorded in Switzerland?

An estimated 876,000 pistols and rifles are currently reported in the online weapons registry (OAWR). The registry speaks of about 279,000 gun owners, records albinfo.ch.

However, the figures do not provide an exact view of private-owned weapons. For example, military weapons are not included in these figures. Weapons that were bought or changed by owners before the obligation to register in 2008 are not registered.

The online questionnaire, which has worked since early October 2016, gives police the opportunity to get information on purchasing, possession or fate of weapons from various cantonal records.

In 2011, Swiss voters rejected the so-called “Waffenschinitative”, and thus a national arms registry.