In Switzerland, thousands of exemptions still allow people to acquire banned semi-automatic weapons

The shooting in Aarau has reopened questions about the limits of Switzerland’s firearms legislation. During the night of Aug. 29-30, the attacker used an AKS-74, a Kalashnikov variant, to fire more than 40 rounds toward people attending a rave. One person died and six others were injured.

The rifle belongs to a category of semi-automatic weapons with high-capacity magazines that Switzerland banned after a revision of its firearms law took effect in 2019. The prohibition, however, does not make acquisition impossible.

NZZ am Sonntag examined the practical reach of the ban and found that people can still acquire the weapons if they obtain an “exceptional permit.” The cantons issue these permits in significant numbers, meaning the banned rifles remain available on a broad scale despite the legislation.

The newspaper’s findings have added force to the debate sparked by the Aarau attack, focusing attention on how far the tightened law actually restricts access to the weapons it was designed to prohibit.