Hamburg Prohibits Weapons In Tough Communities

December 11, 2007 11:36 p.m. EST

Hamburg, Germany (AHN) - The state of Hamburg passed on Tuesday a local legislation banning deadly weapons on tough communities, particularly its red-light district Reeperbahn. It is one step ahead of a proposed European Union legislation that will impose stringent gun control rules in the 27-member bloc.

The local legislation is based on federal laws passed early this year that permits local states to ban items with potential of endangering public safety, fake guns included. The federal and local laws were passed because of rising incidents of violence across the country.

The Hamburg ban, the first prohibition on a state level, includes air rifles, billy clubs, brass knuckles, baseball bats, pepper sprays and various forms of maces. A fine of up to $14,700 (10,000 euro) will be imposed on violators of the ban.

Antje Moller of the Green Party called for an extension of the ban to include sale of the prohibited weapons. "It can't be the case that you're not allowed to carry weapons, but trading in them is public accepted," Moller told German broadcasting network NDR.

The EU legislation was a result of a spate of school shootings in Finland and Germany, prompting the bloc legislators to propose grant of gun permits to EU individuals above 18, only if these people are deemed not a threat to public safety. The measure aims to prevent Europe from having a gun-friendly culture like in the U.S.

Since gun registration rules and procedures differ across the 27-member bloc, each country will be required to maintain a computerized data base on firearms, including details about its model, caliber, serial number, and names and addresses of the sellers and buyers. Authorities must keep the data for at least 20 years.