A city councilor in Switzerland has apologized after she fired a sporting pistol at an auction poster of a 14th-century Madonna and child painting and posted images of their bullet-ridden faces on social media.

A city councilor in Switzerland has apologized and reportedly sought police protection against threats after she fired a sport pistol at an auction poster of a 14th-century Madonna and child painting and posted images of their bullet-ridden faces on social media.

Green-Liberal party official Sanija Ameti, 32, put the images on Instagram over the weekend before quickly pulling them down. She later said she had been practicing shots from about 10 meters (33 feet) and found the poster as “big enough” for a suitable target.

“I apologize to the people who were hurt by my post. I deleted it immediately when I realized its religious content. I didn’t think about it,” Ameti wrote on X. “I’m incredibly sorry.”

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
    23·
    4 months ago

    What’s funny is that U.S. conservatives often point to Switzerland as a big success when it comes to guns, ignoring things like the socialized mental health care that Switzerland also has. Along with a permitting system, something else they would be against.

    • Sewer_King@lemmy.worldEnglish
      142·
      4 months ago

      If I recall correctly, Switzerland has a lot of gun control laws that dictate who can own a firearm, when and where the firearm can be used, and ownership requires strict training and licensing that often comes from the compulsory military service that the country requires. All of that would be great to have here in the US since the little tidbit about guns in our rule book mentions a well-regulated militia.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
        42·
        4 months ago

        I don’t think it’s as strict as you’re saying. I’ve heard stories from people who come from other countries and are able to do things like get machine gun permits in Switzerland. But the point is they get a permit to do it. Meaning that the authorities know they have the machine gun and can keep an eye on them if they think there’s a reason to.

            • Cort@lemmy.worldEnglish
              31·
              4 months ago

              Yes? Atf form #4 required for machine gun permit. You can’t buy a new machine gun but you can buy one that was made before the NFA was passed.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
                33·
                4 months ago

                You do know there are guns other than machine guns in Switzerland, yes? You need permits for them too.

                • catloaf@lemm.eeEnglish
                  41·
                  4 months ago

                  I am begging you, please for once pay attention to the previous comments in a conversation and not just fire replies to everything in your reply notifications

                • Cort@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  32·
                  4 months ago

                  I do know there were other guns in Switzerland, but you were the one who mentioned machine guns being literally permitted in reference to the laws in Switzerland being less strict than some would assume; to which the other commenter replied: that’s the same as America (where you need to get a permit to own a machine gun).

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      2·
      4 months ago

      Not to mention, part of why it’s so big is the compulsory military service and militia/reserve. The Swiss army reserve encompasses the vast majority of the male Swiss population.

    • SoJB@lemmy.mlEnglish
      34·
      4 months ago

      Swiss labor is also some of the most expensive in all of Europe. They’ve done well for themselves with all that Nazi gold.