A concerning development has emerged from Berlin, revealing that extremist groups, self-proclaimed “Reich citizens” and individuals associated with delegitimizing the state possessed over 4,000 legally registered firearms as of December 2024. The information, gleaned from a parliamentary inquiry by the Green Party and released by the Federal Ministry of the Interior, raises serious questions about the efficacy of current weapons control measures and potential threats to the democratic order.
According to the ministry’s response, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution registered 2,996 firearms held by individuals identified as right-wing extremists, 932 held by members of “Reich citizen” and “self-administrator” groups and 124 belonging to individuals linked to broader efforts to undermine state authority. While data since the end of 2024 are not yet available, the sheer volume of weaponry in the hands of these individuals is triggering alarm.
Compounding the issue, 1,120 designated right-wing extremists, 357 “Reich citizens” and “self-administrators” and 37 individuals associated with delegitimization efforts were confirmed to hold firearm permits. While a significant number of permits – 157 from right-wing extremists, 191 from “Reich citizen” groups and 12 from individuals linked to state delegitimization – were revoked or voluntarily returned in the preceding year, the existing arsenal remains a cause for significant concern.
Marcel Emmerich, the Green Party’s parliamentary spokesperson for domestic policy, condemned the situation as a “scandal” arguing that individuals actively challenging Germany’s democratic foundations should not possess firearms. “Those who attack our liberal democratic basic order must not be allowed to hold weapons. Verfassungsfeinde must be consistently disarmed” he stated. Emmerich emphasized the inherent danger this weaponry poses to the rule of law, criticizing the perceived inaction of the Federal Ministry of the Interior despite longstanding calls for reform from state governments and weapons authorities to accelerate and enhance the process of disarming such individuals. Critics are now intensifying pressure on the ministry to take decisive action and implement stricter controls, arguing that the current system is demonstrably failing to adequately exclude dangerous actors from legal firearm ownership. The situation is likely to fuel renewed debate on the balance between citizens’ rights and national security, particularly within the context of rising extremist sentiment.
