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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)