Germany: Changes in Gun Law Impacts The Hunting Industry
Hunters have to observe new regulations – including for silencers and night vision technology in connection with weapons. DJV provides an overview.
With today’s announcement in the Federal Law Gazette, parts of the amended Weapons Act will come into force tomorrow. Then there are important regulations for hunters on silencers, night vision technology in connection with weapons, queries with the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, and weapon ban zones. Most of the changes will only come into effect on September 1, 2020. Hunters now have to observe transition and reporting deadlines. For example, existing possession of larger magazines must be reported to the Weapons Authority by September 1, 2021, for the ban to not apply. In the future, the permissible magazine limits will be ten rounds for long guns and 20 rounds for handguns.
The most important changes at a glance:
- In the future, hunters will only be able to purchase silencers for long guns with a hunting license and without prior entry. Hunters must report the purchase of a silencer to the authorities within two weeks – as is usual with the purchase of long guns. The authority then enters this into the gun ownership card. Silencers may only be used with hunting-approved long guns for centerfire ammunition. This only applies to hunting and hunting practice shooting.
- When checking the reliability, a query is also carried out with the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
In particularly justified cases, the weapons authority may order personal appearance.
- Reorganization of the duty to notify when purchasing and handing over weapons.
- The circle of “essential parts” requiring a permit is being expanded.
- Magazines for more than 20 rounds (handguns) and more than 10 rounds (long guns) are prohibited.
- In the future, hunters may also use night vision technology (attachments and attachments) in connection with the weapon. However, the hunting law prohibitions on this remain in place.
- The only exceptions to this are in Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg and Saxony. Infrared brighteners are still banned.
- The federal states and municipalities can increasingly designate so-called “gun ban zones”. However, there are exceptions for hunters.
Final thoughts
Hunters will have to abide by the changes in gun law. Gun manufacturers and retailers like Ballachy will have to take responsibility to educate buyers about these changes in gun laws. It is also necessary for gun owners to take time to educate themselves about these changes in order to fully comply with the laws governing gun ownership and gun use.
