Germany's "Gun Safety" Laws
Germany's "Gun Safety" Laws
April 27, 2002
KeepAndBearArms.com -- American
gun control organizations are seeking many new restrictions on firearms, at both
the state and federal levels. Many of their proposed gun controls have already been tested in
Germany. Their excuse is always for safety.
With the school shooting in Germany where 13 teachers,
2 students, an administrator
and a police officer were shot dead -- April 26, 2002 -- it's a good time to do some simple
analysis. (Note: the shooter was shot dead, too, by his own hand, but we consider
that particular trigger pull an act of community service.)
| Type
of Gun Control |
Anti-Gunners '
Position
|
Germany
Now |
| Registration of all privately owned
firearms |
yes |
yes |
| License to
buy, own, carry or use firearms |
yes |
yes |
| Authorization to purchase ammunition |
yes |
yes |
| "Proof
of Training/Skill" requirement |
yes |
yes |
| Testing
requirement |
yes |
yes |
| Proof of
need for gun |
yes |
yes |
| Use of
term "sporting purposes" to describe need |
yes |
yes |
| Require
teachers and school administrators to be unarmed, easy prey |
yes |
yes |
| Extensive
background checks before purchase |
yes |
yes |
| Licensing
for airguns |
yes |
yes |
| Strict gun
storage mandates |
yes |
yes |
Notable Quotes
"Police say that there are around 10 million legally owned guns in Germany, but estimate that there are twice as many illegal firearms, many flooding in from eastern Europe since the fall of the Iron Curtain and from former Balkan war zones. Germany has a population of about 82 million."
(Source: Reuters via Miami
Herald, "Bloodbath Occurs as Germany Strengthens
Gun Law", April 26, 2002)
"Germany already has
strict laws governing the right to a gun, but experts say the country is awash
with illegal weapons." --CNN,
"18 Die in German School Massacre", April 26, 2002)
"According to police statistics, only 0.004 percent of armed crimes
[in Germany] are committed with a legally obtained firearm." --Joachim
Streitberger, head of the Weapons Rights Forum, an association representing legal weapons
owners in Germany (Source: Reuters via Miami
Herald, "Bloodbath Occurs as Germany Strengthens
Gun Law", April 26, 2002)
Related Links
PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS IN GERMANY
GENERAL LEGAL TERMS AND SAMPLE QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO FIREARMS - LEGAL USE OF PRIVATELY OWNED FIREARMS IN GERMANY
USAREUR
announces new rules
for privately owned firearm registration in Germany
(November 2000)
