New member from Germany

[samIam]

Welcome from Minnesota.

 

[Titan]

Welcome to the forum from Southeastern Massachusetts (near Cape Cod).

Are there particular models of Smith & Wesson that you want to acquire next?


What type of regulations govern ownership in Germany? Do you need a license?

What does an 'average person' do to become a gun owner?

.

 

[fyimo]

Welcome to the forum from Arkansas.

 

[Daimler1989]

Are there particular models of Smith & Wesson that you want to acquire next?


What type of regulations govern ownership in Germany? Do you need a license?

What does an 'average person' do to become a gun owner?

.

Hi,

some brief answers: My wife will get a M696 hopefully next summer. For myself, I don't know if there will be another S&W possible . Read further down.

Gun laws in Germany: very very restrictive. You need to be member of a shooting club, hunter or professional bodyguard/security specialist to be allowed to apply for a license to buy guns. You then have to proof what they call "the necessity" - this means: you have to pass a hunting course (which my wife will do from september on for half a year), you have to be a shooting club member for at least one year (including a safe handling course and a shooting test result to show that you are able to hit the target) or you have to account for a constant threat to yourself or your customers if you are professional bodyguard/security specialist. As few guns as possible is the policy of our gun laws - which means, you get a license when they have no possibility to dismiss your application.

There are a lot of further severe restrictions - esp. since early this year a 17 yo teenager killed 17 people with his father's Beretta (a shooting club member who offended against the law by keeping his gun and some 100 live rounds in the wardrobe instead of in the steel locker). To be allowed handguns larger than .22 caliber, you have to be at least 25 yo, you have to transport your guns to the shooting range separeted from the ammo in two different and blocked bags/boxes/cases, the safekeeping of your guns can be controlled by the police at any time etc.

I'm a competetive shooter for 30 years now and own firearms since 1983. These are my two S&W's: 17-4 and 27-3.

I own a quite rare auto-loading pistol as well, a Steyr GB, 9mm (although intended as a military sidearm, it has an incredible accuracy). Some rifles too... Happy to be a member of the german Army's Reserve Shooting Association.

regards
Ulrich

 

[Titan]

Ulrich,

Thanks for the detailed answers.

The process you describe makes me appreciate even more, the Constitutional protections we have here.

We have licensing processes that vary state by state and even some varying at the local level in many cases.

In my state of Massachusetts, the granting of licenses is in the control of local Chiefs of Police in each town or city. In one town you may have a Chief of Police who is sympathetic to the cause of civilian gun ownership and licenses may be fairly easy to obtain.

You may find though, that in all the surrounding towns, the Chiefs oppose civilian gun ownership and make licensing virtually impossible.

In other states, that are so-called "shall issue" states, the licensing authority more or less must grant a license to any law abiding citizen who meets a very limited set of criteria.

Many of us believe that any licensing process is an 'infringement' of our natural rights to self defense that are affirmed in our Constitution.


You have some great looking guns. Perhaps in this thread or others you participate in, you could post pics of your Steyr as well.

It's a Smith & Wesson forum, but you'll find most of us are gun lovers at heart and appreciate any quality firearm.


I hope you thoroughly enjoy this forum and feel comfortable to ask any questions you may have, and to contribute freely as well.

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[Spotteddog]

WELCOME from Spotteddog as well!
You will enjoy the 696 as much as your others!
Thank you for helping us keep the shooting sports alive worldwide!

 

[84CJ]

Those are two very nice revolvers.
I was at a local outdoor range and meet a fellow that had a couple Hammrelli's (I'm sure this is not spelled right) Nice pistols though. Said he used to shoot in matches in Germany. I didn't ask but suspect he was in the US Military. Do they follow the same laws as you as in owning firearms. Any way.

Willkommen zum Forum

 

[Thicker]

Welcome to the Forum

 

[sip62]

Hallo Ulrich

Willkommen im Forum und liebe Grüsse aus dem "Waffenparadies" Schweiz.

Jörg

 

[afriqueart]

willkommen

 

[bkp3gen]

Welcome to the forum from Nebraska...