After the shooting in Hamburg: Calls for stricter gun laws are increasing

After the killing spree in Hamburg, calls for a tightening of gun laws increased. In an interview with the daily topics Federal Interior Minister Faeser also called for a review of a ban on semi-automatic pistols.

After the killing spree in Hamburg that killed eight, calls for a reform of the gun law increased.

For example, Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser confirmed her plans to tighten the current laws. During the attacks in Halle and Hanau, one saw that there was a need for action on weapons law, Faeser said when visiting the scene of the crime.

A draft law for stricter gun laws is being prepared in the federal government, but there are disagreements with the FDP. In an interview with the daily topics said Faeser that after the shots from Hamburg one had to look at whether the draft was still sufficient.

So far, among other things, it has stipulated that semi-automatic long guns should be banned because they are highly relevant to acts of terrorism and amok attacks.

Review of expert opinion process required

The managing director of the Greens parliamentary group, Irene Mihalic, also partially questioned the current regulations. For example, it is “more than questionable why only under-25-year-olds have to submit a medical or psychological report when applying for a gun permit,” she told the editorial network Germany.

Since firearms endanger human life in the wrong hands, all applicants – regardless of age – should have to submit such reports, Mihalic demanded. Appropriate aptitude tests should actually have to be repeated at regular intervals.

“Since the suspected gunman from Hamburg apparently had a gun permit, it must now be clarified exactly how he got there,” demanded the Greens politician. “We cannot prevent such rampages 100 percent, but we are currently not doing everything that is possible to ensure that people like the gunman in Hamburg do not get their hands on firearms.”

The domestic policy spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Sebastian Hartmann, told the RND: “The perpetrator from Hamburg apparently had legal access to weapons as a marksman.” Now it has to be clarified why the perpetrator’s controls did not provide any indication of danger and did not lead to the withdrawal of the gun owner’s license.

Perpetrator legally owned pistol

The perpetrator in Hamburg shot with a semi-automatic pistol that he legally owned as a marksman. Whether such weapons should also be banned will now be examined, said Faeser. “We’ll definitely discuss that.”

The draft law was created under the impression of the attacks in Halle and Hanau, where the perpetrators had used long guns. “It’s only a draft, so we’ll check it now.” The balance has to be maintained, because normal marksmen don’t want to be bothered.

Hardly any gun controls due to staff shortages

Faeser referred to difficulties with gun controls. “We had a time in Germany where we reduced a lot of administration, it was en vogue to save. And now you’re surprised that you can’t carry out the controls anymore.” In the weapons sector, however, a lot of control is needed if you want to find those who are psychologically impaired or who are storing weapons incorrectly or too many.

Draft provides for stricter examination of new applications

The bill provides for stricter reviews for new gun license applications, Faeser said. It is planned that a medical certificate must be submitted with the application.

An exchange option for the weapons authorities is also planned, so that the authorities in previous places of residence can be asked about information that speaks against the granting of a weapon license.

Issued gun permits more difficult to control

More complicated, however, is the question of what a review of gun ownership cards that have already been issued could look like. “That’s where we’re at the point of difficulty, who do we burden the most with it. It’s all about when we have clues and facts that justify something like that. Then it should happen.” Without indications of a possible unsuitability, however, it was “very, very difficult,” said Faeser. “You will not always be able to prevent everything in a constitutional state.”

Reference to Hamburg perpetrators

The perpetrator in Hamburg had received tips: In January, the Hamburg police had received an anonymous letter in which a check of the perpetrator’s weapon capability was requested. According to the anonymous writer, he suffers from a mental illness and is particularly angry with everything religious – especially Jehovah’s Witnesses, whom he left of his own free will, but not in good faith.

An unannounced police check on him did not provide any information that would have confirmed the anonymous letter, police chief Ralf Martin Meyer said. Accordingly, the man complied with the regulations for storing the weapon and behaved cooperatively. There was a warning because he kept a single projectile outside the safe. “The officials’ legal options were exhausted,” said Meyer.

dismay and sympathy

The leaders of the state were deeply dismayed by the killing spree. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier reacted “with great horror”. He is convinced that many people in Germany feel sincere sympathy and wished the injured a speedy recovery. The President of the Bundestag, Bärbel Bas, also said she was “deeply shaken”.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz was also stunned. “My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives during the difficult hours,” said the SPD politician. “We mourn those who were so brutally taken from their lives.” Hamburg’s First Mayor Peter Tschentscher tweeted his “deep sympathy” with the victims’ families.