The survey, carried out by a research institute last week, found that 65.6 percent of Swiss citizens support a ban on storing personal assault rifles and guns in private households. Among women it was 75 percent.

Under Swiss law all able-bodied men are issued with a rifle and 50 rounds of ammunition which they can keep after completing their compulsory military service.

An estimated 1.6 million firearms are in circulation in Switzerland and about 300 people are killed every year by standard army weapons.

Switzerland's center-left political parties and pacifist groups are preparing a plan to force a nationwide vote on the issue as the parliament considers alternative options, according to the SRI report.

The Social Democrats and the Green Party as well as pacifists groups said they will decide in May whether to launch a people's initiative in a bid to keep army firearms out of the home. The people's initiative could lead to a national vote.

The Parliament, however, is examining a less far-reaching proposal. A Senate committee recently recommended a ban on storing ammunition for personal firearms at home. The decision came after the House of Representative threw out a plan to tighten the gun law.

The debate is set to continue during parliament's summer session in June.