German lawmakers agree to tighten gun laws

[Steven Mace]

German lawmakers agree to tighten gun laws in wake of school shooting that left 17 dead

The Associated Press
6/6/02 1:17 PM

BERLIN (AP) -- Lawmakers agreed Thursday on proposals to tighten German gun laws, keeping a pledge made after a teen-ager shot and killed 16 people and himself at his former school in April.

The 19-year-old killer, Robert Steinhaeuser, held licenses for the pump-action rifle he carried into the school as well as the pistol that police say he used to gun down his victims and kill himself on April 26.

Pump-action shotguns would be outlawed in the proposed changes. The Interior Ministry called them "classic underworld weapons" unsuited to sport or hunting.

Other changes would raise the minimum age for legal possession of a firearm for recreational use such as target shooting from 18 to 21, the ministry said. Applicants for the license would also have to present a doctor's note confirming their mental suitability to have a firearm.

The minimum age for hunters, who already have to pass a separate exam, would be raised from 16 to 18.

The changes would be made to a firearms law drawn up before the slaughter at the school in the eastern city of Erfurt.

Steinhaeuser was an active member of a local gun club, though club officials said they noticed nothing strange about his behavior before he embarked on one of the world's worst school shootings.

Both houses of parliament hope to vote on the bill by June 21, the ministry said.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/international/index.ssf?/cgi-free/getstory_ssf.cgi?a0679_BC_Germany-GunLaws&&news&newsflash-international

Steve Mace

[Steven Mace]

Bill to tighten gun laws in wake of Erfurt school shooting passes lower house of parliament

Fri Jun 14, 5:38 AM ET

BERLIN - A bill to tighten German gun laws drawn up quickly after a bloody school shooting in which 17 people died cleared the lower house of parliament Friday.

The bill proposes outlawing pump-action shotguns. Other changes include raising the minimum age for legal possession of a firearm for recreational use to 18 to 21. Hobby shooters under age 25 would have to present a doctor's note confirming their mental suitability to apply for a gun license.

The minimum age for hunters, who already have to pass a separate exam, would be raised from 16 to 18.

Government and opposition politicians pledged the restrictions after an expelled pupil stormed through his former school in the eastern city of Erfurt in April, gunning down 16 teachers and students before turning the gun on himself.

The 19-year-old killer, Robert Steinhaeuser, held licenses for the pump-action rifle he carried into the school as well as the pistol that police say he used to gun down his victims and then turned on himself.

Steinhaeuser was an active member of a local gun club, though club officials said they noticed nothing strange about his behavior before he embarked on one of the world's worst school shootings.

Lawmakers voted the bill through on a show of hands Friday after its details were agreed in an all-party committee on Wednesday. The upper house is expected to give its approval next week so that the bill can become law.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020614/ap_wo_en_po/germany_gun_laws_1

Steve Mace

[Steven Mace]

Bill to tighten German gun laws after Erfurt school shooting clears last legislative hurdle

Fri Jun 21, 6:38 AM ET

BERLIN - A bill to tighten German gun laws after a school shooting in which 17 people died cleared its final legislative hurdle Friday, raising the age for legally owning a firearm for recreational use from 18 to 21.

The measure, which gained unanimous approval in the upper house of parliament, also outlawed pump-action shotguns and raised the minimum gun-owning age for hunters from 16 to 18.

Government and opposition politicians pledged the restrictions after an expelled pupil stormed through his former school in the eastern city of Erfurt in April, gunning down 16 teachers and students before turning the gun on himself. Friday's vote follows approval last week by the lower house of parliament.

Robert Steinhaeuser, 19, held licenses for the pump-action shotgun he carried into the school as well as the pistol that police say he used to gun down his victims and then turned on himself.

Steinhaeuser was an active member of a local gun club, though club officials said they noticed nothing strange about his behavior before he embarked on one of the world's worst school shootings.

Under the new law, all shooters under age 25 except hunters will have to present a doctor's note confirming their mental suitability.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020621/ap_wo_en_po/germany_gun_laws_2

Steve Mace