The German Ministry of the Interior, led by the Social Democratic Party and the Green Party, is aiming to tighten firearm laws. The last major amendment to these laws was in 2020, and now Interior Minister Nancy Fizer has drafted an internal proposal for further reforms. These reforms include a ban on semi-automatic firearms resembling military weapons and stricter regulations overall. While the Green Party generally supports the project, it has faced opposition from the Free Democratic Party.
At the time, public attention was drawn to the consequences of the 2020 firearm law amendment, and people are being urged to consider the current proposal carefully.
According to a report assessing the 2020 reforms presented to the Bundestag’s Internal Affairs Committee, there is still a need for changes to the German firearm law. Interviews were conducted with government officials and associations such as the German Hunting Association and the Firearms Law Forum for analysis.
The report suggests that most regulations introduced in the recent amendment to the firearm law are “suitable and practical.” However, authorities believe there is room for improvement when it comes to verifying the reliability and suitability of individuals with firearm permits or those applying for them. This includes personal attendance at hearings or psychological assessments.
Authorities also argue for stricter provisions aimed at ensuring that opponents of the constitution do not gain access to firearms and enabling the quicker removal of weapons from such individuals.
The associations included in the survey criticized the fact that the recently introduced automatic inquiry for every individual firearm owner at the Office for the Protection of the Constitution has led to significant delays upon implementation, sometimes having severe consequences, particularly for hunters.
