The German Police Union (GdP) is issuing a stark warning ahead of New Year’s Eve, raising serious concerns about the escalating risk posed by the widespread availability of imitation firearms. Jochen Kopelke, Federal Chairman of the GdP, told “Focus” magazine that many of these devices are virtually indistinguishable from genuine weapons, creating a significant potential for misidentification and dangerous confrontation.
The core of the GdP’s concern lies in the potential for police officers to mistakenly perceive a Schreckschusswaffe (replica firearm) as a real weapon during the chaotic atmosphere of New Year’s Eve celebrations – a period already marked by widespread violations of regulations prohibiting their public use. Kopelke cautioned that such a misinterpretation could lead to officers engaging and arresting individuals, “potentially even under the use of force.
Currently, replica firearms are legally available for purchase by adults over 18, but their public discharge is prohibited. The persistent annual disregard for this rule, according to the GdP, demands a more robust regulatory response. Kopelke is advocating for the introduction of a “Small Weapons License” as a prerequisite for ownership, currently required only for the physical carrying of firearms. He argues that, without such a measure, police are left “at the mercy” of uncontrolled fireworks, rockets, projectiles and imitation firearms on the night.
The GdP’s call for stricter controls has garnered political support. Marcel Emmerich, parliamentary spokesman for interior policy for the Green Party in the Bundestag, echoed the sentiment, calling the continued circulation of millions of replica firearms a “security policy liability”. Emmerich directly criticized the inaction of the Federal Interior Minister, accusing him of failing to strengthen the Explosives Act and the Weapons Act. He suggested that political paralysis is directly contributing to the escalating risk of accidental shootings and misunderstandings during a period already fraught with potential for violence. The debate underscores a growing tension between individual freedom and public safety within Germany, as policymakers grapple with how to effectively regulate the proliferation of potentially dangerous imitation weapons.
