WCS
This edition of random facts of knowledge about Germany will hopefully clear up some I would argue myths about gun ownership that are very popular in Germany. This article maybe more educational to my fellow Germans than foreign readers. Well, at least I hope so.
I have had a draft of this article sitting around for awhile now, but recent events forced my to kind of rush it now. Apologies that this piece lacks an overarching story and a conclusion.
Myths about gun ownership. Considering Germanys history, it is not hard to understand, that the Germans might have some rather unusual views on war, peace, and relating to that, gun policy. This is fine of course, but unfortunately a lot of common misconceptions go along with these views.
Germans are incredibly proud of their strict gun laws, and the supposedly low number of guns that exist in Germany. Have a look at any topic where guns are discussed on TL, and you will find a German pacifist voicing disbelief how a US forum poster can have an assault rifle at home. How can something like this ever be made legal? An impossible thought, for most Germans.
In reality, Germany is armed to the teeth. There are about 25 million firearms in civilian hands in Germany. That is about 1 gun for every 3 people. To put these numbers a bit more into perspective, there are about 4 million gun owners in a country of 40 million households.
Of course, that is only the raw numbers, although it is quite impressive on their own. Lets look at the supposedly strict gun ownership laws.
It is true that it is not easy to obtain a gun ownership license in Germany. But "not easy" is very relative. It's not easy to get a driver's license in Germany, either. In fact, getting your driver's license is about as hard as getting your gun ownership license. You have to pass a test on gun safety and proficiency, which takes more time and about as many lessons than getting your driver's license, but not by a lot. If the authorities have doubts that your are fit to own guns, they can ask for a psychological evaluation before you get your license. Applicants 25 years or younger always need to pass this evaluation. If you have a criminal record the authorities might deny you the application anyways.
That's basically it. Once you are there, you are free to buy as much steel as you want. With some restrictions (This is concerning competition shooters, which account for the vast majority of gun owners): You are allowed a new purchase every 6 months, and it must be of a different caliber than your existing. Also you will have to argue necessity for owning a gun. For a recreational shooter that means regular practice, which might get difficult the more guns you own. Apart from that however, there is no reason why you couldn't get that semi automatic assault rifle. Or more than one. I myself went shooting with a range of guns including M-16, HK41, Desert Eagle .50AE, SG551, all kinds of semi automatic pistols and revolvers in good old Germany, yet for some reason people here have a hard time believing that.
There are additional safety requirements that gun holders must meet. Guns have to be stored in gun safes, and may only be transported in a case. Under pressure from a recent school shooting, a law has been passed that permits authorities to verify if gun owners satisfy the safety requirements, however that law is still being contested in several court cases.
There are certain bans on specific guns, which have been made for political reasons. For example even though converted semi-auto assault rifles are not generally disallowed, the AK47 and its variants have been banned due to their perceived connection to terrorism. Similarly shotguns with pistol grip (but not shot guns in general) have been banned because of a notorious school shooting in 2002, where the shooter was carrying one, even though he didn't use it (the actual shooting was all done with a regular Glock 17 pistol).
The public outrage that regularly occurs over events like school shootings shows the disconnect from what the general public believes to what the law actually says. And to the reality in Germany for that matter. This is where I like to come back to the opening of this blog. This article is not meant to say that Germans are a violent people, or that gun violence is a problem in Germany. In fact what I want to do is argue the opposite: Germans are so embraced in pacifist ideals that the very notion that their country hosts millions of guns and gun owners is offensive to the point that it will often be not believed or flat out denied.
Sources
Gun ownership survey
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-02-EN.pdf
About gun laws generally
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Germany
Random bits of knowledge about Germany
Ep5: Lines
Ep4: Bild and Fear
Ep3: Stereotypes
Ep2: Sauna
Ep1: Small Talk
Original post:
+ Show Spoiler +
On July 08 2011 17:37 zatic wrote:
German misconceptions about peace and pacifism
This edition of random facts of knowledge about Germany will hopefully clear up some I would argue myths about pacifism that are very popular in Germany. This article maybe more educational to my fellow Germans than foreign readers. Well, at least I hope so.
I have had a draft of this article sitting around for awhile now, but recent events forced my to kind of rush it now. Apologies that this piece lacks an overarching story and a conclusion.
Myths about peace and pacifism. Considering Germanys history, it is not hard to understand, that the Germans might have some rather unusual views on war, peace, and pacifism. This is fine of course, but unfortunately a lot of common misconceptions go along with these views.
The first topic will be about German gun laws and gun ownership.
Germans are incredibly proud of their strict gun laws, and the supposedly low number of guns that exist in Germany. Have a look at any topic where guns are discussed on TL, and you will find a German pacifist voicing disbelief how a US forum poster can have an assault rifle at home. How can something like this ever be made legal? An impossible thought, for most Germans.
In reality, Germany is armed to the teeth. There are about 25 million firearms in civilian hands in Germany. That is about 1 gun for every 3 people. To put these numbers a bit more into perspective, there are about 4 million gun owners in a country of 40 million households.
Of course, that is only the raw numbers, although it is quite impressive on their own. Lets look at the supposedly strict gun ownership laws.
It is true that it is not easy to obtain a gun license in Germany. But "not easy" is very relative. It's not easy to get a driver's license in Germany, either. In fact, getting your driver's license is just little easier than getting your gun ownership. You have to pass a test on gun safety and proficiency, which takes more time and lessons than getting your driver's license, but not by a lot. If the authorities have doubts that your are fit to own guns, they can ask for a psychological evaluation before you get your license. Applicants 25 years or younger always need to pass this evaluation. If you have a criminal record the authorities might deny you the application anyways.
That's basically it. Once you are there, you are free to buy as much steel as you want. With some restrictions (This is concerning recreational shooters): You are allowed a new purchase every 6 months, and it must be of a different caliber than your existing. Apart from that however, there is no reason why you couldn't get that semi automatic assault rifle. Or more than one. I myself went shooting with a range of guns inclluding M-16, HK41, Desert Eagle .50AE, SG551, all kinds of semi automatic pistols and revolvers in good old Germany, yet for some reason people here have a hard time believing that.
There are certain bans on specific guns, which have been made for political reasons. For example even though assault rifles are generally allowed, the AK47 and it's variants have been banned due to their perceived connection to terrorism. Similarly shotguns with pistol grip (but not shot guns in general) have been banned because of a notorious school shooting in 2002, where the shooter was carrying one, even though he didn't use it. The public outrage over that he was able to own such a gun shows you the disconnect from what the general public believes to what the law actually says.
Another in my opinion misconceived notion is that of the peaceful European Union. The EU is so closely connected to peace in the German mind that arguing against that notion will make people here seriously doubt your sanity. It is undenieable that one goal of the EU was a peaceful Europe. What brought us peace however is the European integration, not the institution of the EU. Yes, it certainly helped on the process. However a popular claim I keep hearing is that were the EU to fail or to be abolish, we would return to our pre war habit of invading each other every few years. What a ridiculous idea.
Looking at the EU as it is today, I don't see its peacful nature anyway. The Lisbon treaty specificially demands each signing member to progressivily enhance their military capabilities. How peaceful is an institution that requires armament and military spending? In addition to that it contains a mutual military assistance clause and asks member states to supply military forces to a European command. It also allows European troops to be deployed under that command in 3rd party countries within the war agianst Terror. These deployments are not to be sanctioned by parliament and their rightfulness not to be checked by the European high court. This is so ridiculously against our very constitution that I really can't understand how Germany did sign this treaty in good faith.
From another perspective, if you look at the provisions and requirements for military action of German forces according to the Lisbon treaty, German rulers have had a harder time using military force during the 2nd German Reich and the Weimar Republic. Even the Kaiser had to ask parliament for a declaration of war and an approval of military spending.
These are the two very common misconceptions about peace I encounter when talking with fellow Germans regularly. I am happy to expand on the topics in the comments as I didn't have the time to flesh out this article as much as I wanted to.
Sources
Gun ownership survey
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-02-EN.pdf
Relevant section of the Lisbon treaty
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Consolidated_version_of_the_Treaty_on_European_Union/Title_V:_General_Provisions_on_the_Union's_External_Action_Service_and_Specific_Provisions_on_the_Common_Foreign_and_Security_Policy#Article_42
Random bits of knowledge about Germany
Ep5: Lines
Ep4: Bild and Fear
Ep3: Stereotypes
Ep2: Sauna
Ep1: Small Talk
German misconceptions about peace and pacifism
This edition of random facts of knowledge about Germany will hopefully clear up some I would argue myths about pacifism that are very popular in Germany. This article maybe more educational to my fellow Germans than foreign readers. Well, at least I hope so.
I have had a draft of this article sitting around for awhile now, but recent events forced my to kind of rush it now. Apologies that this piece lacks an overarching story and a conclusion.
Myths about peace and pacifism. Considering Germanys history, it is not hard to understand, that the Germans might have some rather unusual views on war, peace, and pacifism. This is fine of course, but unfortunately a lot of common misconceptions go along with these views.
The first topic will be about German gun laws and gun ownership.
Germans are incredibly proud of their strict gun laws, and the supposedly low number of guns that exist in Germany. Have a look at any topic where guns are discussed on TL, and you will find a German pacifist voicing disbelief how a US forum poster can have an assault rifle at home. How can something like this ever be made legal? An impossible thought, for most Germans.
In reality, Germany is armed to the teeth. There are about 25 million firearms in civilian hands in Germany. That is about 1 gun for every 3 people. To put these numbers a bit more into perspective, there are about 4 million gun owners in a country of 40 million households.
Of course, that is only the raw numbers, although it is quite impressive on their own. Lets look at the supposedly strict gun ownership laws.
It is true that it is not easy to obtain a gun license in Germany. But "not easy" is very relative. It's not easy to get a driver's license in Germany, either. In fact, getting your driver's license is just little easier than getting your gun ownership. You have to pass a test on gun safety and proficiency, which takes more time and lessons than getting your driver's license, but not by a lot. If the authorities have doubts that your are fit to own guns, they can ask for a psychological evaluation before you get your license. Applicants 25 years or younger always need to pass this evaluation. If you have a criminal record the authorities might deny you the application anyways.
That's basically it. Once you are there, you are free to buy as much steel as you want. With some restrictions (This is concerning recreational shooters): You are allowed a new purchase every 6 months, and it must be of a different caliber than your existing. Apart from that however, there is no reason why you couldn't get that semi automatic assault rifle. Or more than one. I myself went shooting with a range of guns inclluding M-16, HK41, Desert Eagle .50AE, SG551, all kinds of semi automatic pistols and revolvers in good old Germany, yet for some reason people here have a hard time believing that.
There are certain bans on specific guns, which have been made for political reasons. For example even though assault rifles are generally allowed, the AK47 and it's variants have been banned due to their perceived connection to terrorism. Similarly shotguns with pistol grip (but not shot guns in general) have been banned because of a notorious school shooting in 2002, where the shooter was carrying one, even though he didn't use it. The public outrage over that he was able to own such a gun shows you the disconnect from what the general public believes to what the law actually says.
Another in my opinion misconceived notion is that of the peaceful European Union. The EU is so closely connected to peace in the German mind that arguing against that notion will make people here seriously doubt your sanity. It is undenieable that one goal of the EU was a peaceful Europe. What brought us peace however is the European integration, not the institution of the EU. Yes, it certainly helped on the process. However a popular claim I keep hearing is that were the EU to fail or to be abolish, we would return to our pre war habit of invading each other every few years. What a ridiculous idea.
Looking at the EU as it is today, I don't see its peacful nature anyway. The Lisbon treaty specificially demands each signing member to progressivily enhance their military capabilities. How peaceful is an institution that requires armament and military spending? In addition to that it contains a mutual military assistance clause and asks member states to supply military forces to a European command. It also allows European troops to be deployed under that command in 3rd party countries within the war agianst Terror. These deployments are not to be sanctioned by parliament and their rightfulness not to be checked by the European high court. This is so ridiculously against our very constitution that I really can't understand how Germany did sign this treaty in good faith.
From another perspective, if you look at the provisions and requirements for military action of German forces according to the Lisbon treaty, German rulers have had a harder time using military force during the 2nd German Reich and the Weimar Republic. Even the Kaiser had to ask parliament for a declaration of war and an approval of military spending.
These are the two very common misconceptions about peace I encounter when talking with fellow Germans regularly. I am happy to expand on the topics in the comments as I didn't have the time to flesh out this article as much as I wanted to.
Sources
Gun ownership survey
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/A-Yearbook/2007/en/full/Small-Arms-Survey-2007-Chapter-02-EN.pdf
Relevant section of the Lisbon treaty
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Consolidated_version_of_the_Treaty_on_European_Union/Title_V:_General_Provisions_on_the_Union's_External_Action_Service_and_Specific_Provisions_on_the_Common_Foreign_and_Security_Policy#Article_42
Random bits of knowledge about Germany
Ep5: Lines
Ep4: Bild and Fear
Ep3: Stereotypes
Ep2: Sauna
Ep1: Small Talk
