Status: 01/03/2023 10:27 am
After the attacks on rescue workers on New Year’s Eve, calls for no-gun zones became louder. Municipalities can do that. The mayor of Berlin-Neukölln is even calling for a nationwide ban on the sale of fireworks.
The municipal associations are expecting more no-fire zones at the turn of the year. The cities had – even before Corona – “made good experiences with fireworks ban zones,” said the general manager of the city day, Helmut Dedy, the editorial network Germany (RND). The ban zones served to protect residents from noise, historic buildings from fire and people on party miles from injury. After a detailed analysis of the most recent incidents, it could happen “that the firecracker ban zones will be expanded next year or, in consultation with the security authorities, the police presence will be increased,” said Dedy.
The president of the German district association, Reinhard Sager, also pointed out in the RND that the laws allow “local bans on firecrackers”. The bans would be particularly suitable for some large cities, but less so for the counties.
“Don’t punish those who party peacefully”
Bavaria’s Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann rejects a general ban on firecrackers. It would also punish those who celebrated carefully and responsibly, said the CSU politician “Antenna Bayern” and the RND. A general ban would also not eliminate the causes, “namely the brutalization of a few”. Herrmann also referred to the possibility for municipalities to ban fireworks in certain places.
The FDP domestic politician Konstantin Kuhle also advocated expanding the no-gun zones in certain cities and districts. On the other hand, he does not think that a sales ban makes sense, he said on Deutschlandfunk. This would punish those who celebrated peacefully on New Year’s Eve.
Neukölln’s mayor: ban should apply nationwide
The district mayor of Berlin-Neukölln, Martin Hikel, sees things differently: He advocates a ban on the sale of fireworks. “I think it’s right that we also talk about the importance of fireworks for us socially and whether sales should be restricted,” said the SPD politician to the “Welt”. A possible ban would then have to apply nationwide. Neukölln was one of the focal points of the riots on New Year’s Eve.
The German fire brigade union sees no solution in a general ban on firecrackers. in the ARD morning magazine Board member Manuel Barth called for research into the causes of the attacks.
Association of judges against changes in the law
Meanwhile, the chairman of the German Association of Judges, Joachim Lüblinghoff, does not believe that changes to the law are necessary. Whenever there are such incidents as on New Year’s Eve, there is a call for stricter laws, said on Deutschlandfunk. However, experience has shown that the laws are sufficient if they are exhausted.
On New Year’s Eve, emergency and rescue services in Berlin and other cities were massively attacked. In some cases, the police had to be deployed to protect firefighters from attacks while they were putting out fires. In Berlin alone, there were 33 injured emergency services and more than 100 arrests.