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 in Switzerland 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]
- 1834 Zurich
- 1838 St. Gallen
- 1843 Chur
- 1849 Aarau
- 1861 Stans
- 1867 Schwyz
- 1874 St. Gallen
- 1885 Bern Kirchenfeld
- 1890 Frauenfeld
- 1901 Lucerne
- 1904 St. Gallen
- 1907 Zurich
- 1910 Bern Wankdorffeld
- 1924 Aarau
- 1929 Bellinzona
- 1947 Chur
- 1954 Lausanne
- 1958 Biel
- 1963 Zurich
- 1969 Thun
- 1985 Chur
- 1990 Winterthur
- 1995 Thun
- 2000 Bière
- 2005 Frauenfeld
- 2010 Aarau
- 2015 Raron[3]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Geschichte". swissshooting.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Facts and Figures". swissshooting.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
- 1 2 "Federal Shooting Festival | Valais Switzerland". Valais.ch. Retrieved March 19, 2016.