Full Article:
As of today, close to 640,00 German citizens are legally permitted to carry a deterrent gun or similar self-defense weapon. To put things in perspective, in 2014, there were just 260,000.
That’s nearly a 250 percent increase in just five years.
Die Welt reports that these figures were able to see the light of day thanks to a survey that was conducted by regional daily, Rheinische Post, at the interior ministries of all 16 federal states.
According to the data obtained, in the last year alone, the increase in small firearm licenses rose about 9 percent compared to the same period last year.
Per capita, the number of firearm owners is highest in Schleswig-Holstein (9.6 per 1000 inhabitants), and in Saarland (9.2). The number of individuals who hold a small gun license has reportedly been rising for years.
“Other statistics show that as of January 2016, exactly 300 949 Small Weapons Cards had been issued, compared to 557 560 by the end of 2017. That’s an 85 percent increase in just under two years. If you hold this firearm license, you may carry Signal, Irritant, and Weapon Firearms in public,” Die Welt reports.
The Union of Police (GdP) believe that the primary reason that’s driving the trend is a “latent feeling of insecurity” in the population.
“Ever since the events on the Cologne cathedral plate in the New Year’s Eve 2015, more and more people seem to feel insecure,” said GdP chairman Oliver Malchow.
As many are already well aware of, Cologne’s New Year’s Eve celebrations saw mass sexual assaults of German women by North African and Middle Eastern men. In total, there were at least 24 alleged rapes and numerous thefts that occurred, mostly in Cologne’s city center.
“The problematic increase in small arms licenses shows that we need to work to restore a sense of security to many citizens,” Malchow said.
“A first important step is more police presence on the road” he added.
Currently, around 5.4 million weapons of differing categories are owned by private citizens in Germany. That amounts to 66 weapons per 1000 inhabitants.
I don’t understand why just because they are overrun with peace loving Muslims.
As opposed to arming themselves with a Braunschweiger?
Funny...there's been a 250% increase in the number of military age moslem males living in Germany over the last 5 years. And a 250% rise in the number if German women (and girls) who've been raped over the last 5 years.
Surely just a coincidence.
btt
Imagine that. My German friend swore the muzzie invasion wouldn’t change Germany from what it’s always been. Make that ex-friend after he refused to believe me they weren’t sending their top scientists and engineers.
Well, the survival instinct isn’t completely dead in all Europeans.......
Meanwhile in Southern California we’re sitting ducks for any illegal alien or felon who is in a bad mood, as our sheriff refuses to abide by the Second Amendment.
Guy is a walking violation of his oath of office.
How stringent are the rules for owning a pistol? I imagine CCW is a non-starter in Germany. Especially for self-defense.
“German citizens are arming themselves with firearms..”
Too bad they can’t use them for self defense.
I would have preferred a headline title that said “More Germans arming themselves with arms: The better to beat down an assailant”.
However, “firearms” are good too.
If they are at all like us, I’ll bet there a lot of WW2 era firearms in closets and attics ready to go.