On Sat, 16 May 2009 00:56:33 -0500, "Basil Karlo"
wrote:

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4247680,00.html

Germany to tighten gun control, ban paintball

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.

The draft law would also bar youths under the age of 18 from shooting
high-caliber firearms at target practice.

Particularly controversial is the plan to conduct random checks on
gun-owners' properties to make sure weapons and ammunition are stored and
locked properly. Even in cases where no wrongdoing is suspected gun owners
who refuse police access face the prospect of having their licenses revoked.

An electronic firearms registry would also be introduced, as well as
biometric security systems to help ensure weapons are only used by their
rightful owners.

In addition, lawmakers are to introduce an amnesty for gun owners who hand
in illegal firearms to authorities.

The plan also contains provisions to impose hefty fines on the operators of
war games like paintball, a game in which players use air-guns to shoot
paint-filled ammunition at opponents. Lawmakers say the sport "simulates
killing" and should be outlawed.

Sport shooters and hunters have come out strongly in protest against
tightening existing regulations, saying that the government wants to take
away their rights and treat them like common criminals.

A 17-year-old named Tim K. went on a rampage in a school in the
south-western German town of Winnenden in March, killing himself and 14
others.

Relatives of the victims of the school shooting have criticized lawmakers'
plans to tighten gun laws as insufficient.


Don't think it can't happen here. As America's minority populations
surge they will bring about a political situation were fundamental
traditional values will be under heavy attack.

ted

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