Schweizerischer Schützenverein

The Schweizerischer Schützenverein SSV, since 2001 Schweizer Schiesssportverband (after fusion with the formerly independent Schweizerischer Sportschützenverband SSSV and Schweizerischer Arbeiterschützen-Bund SASB), is a shooting association founded in 1824,[1] during the Swiss Restoration, in the wake of the collapse of the Helvetic Republic seen as a means to return to the martial prowess of the Old Swiss Confederacy, e.g. in Gottfried Kellers Das Fähnlein der sieben Aufrechten, where before the background of the Schützenfest of 1849 in Aarau, the shooting clubs are portrayed as a vigorous "radical" grass roots movement vital for the preservation of direct democracy in the young Swiss federal state.

History

The SSV was founded in 1824.[1] In 1995, the SSV merged with the Schweizerische Revolver-und Pistolen-Schützenverbandes (SRPV), and in 2002 it merged with the Schweizerischer Sportschützenverband (SSSV) and Schweizerischer Arbeiterschützen-Bund (SASB).[1]

Demographics

The SSV has about 133,000 members, including about 60,825 licensed members.[2] Its current president (as of 2016) is Dora Andres.[2] The SSV is a member of the International Shooting Sport Federation, the European Shooting Confederation, and the Swiss Olympic Association.[2]

From its "radical" origins, the Swiss shooting clubs have evolved into a staunchly right wing/conservative milieu with considerable political leverage, although the 2002 fusion with explicitly socialist shooting associations (Arbeiterschützen) tends to emphasize the purely sportive character of the contemporary SSV, with lobbyist activity contained to issues directly connected with gun laws.

Schützenfest

The SSV organizes the Eidgenössische Schützenfeste, currently in intervals of five years.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Geschichte". swissshooting.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Facts and Figures". swissshooting.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Federal Shooting Festival | Valais Switzerland". Valais.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2016.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, March 21, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.