Legislation

Parents of Winnenden victims seek tougher gun laws

Wednesday, 05 August 2009 00:00 DW World, DE

Families of victims of the Winnenden massacre have come together to push for stricter gun laws in Germany.

Plans by German politicians to strengthen gun laws in the wake of the massacre in Winnenden that left 16 dead don't go far enough, according to a new action group founded by families of the victims. The government's proposed legislative changes are mostly “cosmetic,” said Hardy Schober, chair of the Winnenden Massacre Group.

In response, the group has started a signature campaign with their own ideas for a legislative response to the attacks. They'd like a ban on large caliber weapons and say there's no reason to store handguns in private households. Those, they say, should be kept at registered gun clubs.

N.J. lawmakers approve bill limiting handgun purchases to one a month

Saturday, 27 June 2009 12:47 Susan K. Livio/Statehouse Bureau

N.J. lawmakers approve bill limiting handgun purchases to one a month

TRENTON -- Handgun purchases in New Jersey would be limited to one per month after lawmakers gave final approval

early today to a controversial bill that had stalled for months and re-emerged in the rush before the Legislature's summer break.

The measure, now before Gov. Jon Corzine, would make New Jersey the fourth state to limit handgun purchases to once a month, according to gun control activists.

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Germany to tighten gun control, ban paintball

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 10:25 Rita Lewis

Germany's coalition government is moving to severely tighten controls over firearm owners, after a 17-year-old killed 15 people with a pistol taken from his father's bedroom.

The Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democrat Party agreed on Tuesday evening to reforms to Germany's gun laws, which include a controversial ban on war games like paintball or laser-tag.

Both coalition parties still have to approve the negotiated outcomes. The reforms are to be presented to parliament in late May, so that they can be dealt with before the election in September.

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Disrepectful Restrictions For Gun Owners

Saturday, 13 June 2009 16:50 Andreas Mölzer

Many countries have a weapons law that has for years been becoming increasingly restrictive (with every incident). It is estimated that there are ten million licensed weapons in Germany (in the hands of four million legal weapons owners) as opposed to more than twice as many illegal weapons. Nevertheless, the German police announced, just prior to the EU Weapons Directive, that they saw no need for further tightening, instead efforts should be made to ensure the current rules (for example, on secure storage) are respected. Experts have for years been pointing out, to no avail, that in the majority of crimes involving firearms (in Austrian crime statistics these account for a small fraction), the firearms were procured illegally.

Tougher EU rules on gun ownership

Saturday, 13 June 2009 15:54 European Parliment

The European Parliament updated current EU rules on gun ownership to reduce illegal traffic, including over the internet. The legislation sets up computerised data systems so that all firearms can be traceable to owners, and prohibits people under 18 from possessing firearms.

To read more about this legislation, please click the following link: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/elections2009/highlights/product.htm?ref=20090120TMN46720&secondRef=0&language=EN&section=11

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Last Updated ( Saturday, 13 June 2009 17:01 )

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