In the Federal Republic of Germany, the Weapons Act (WaffG) regulates the handling of weapons. The General Weapons Act Ordinance (AWaffV) supplements these regulations as a further legal basis. Furthermore, the weapons authorities are required by the General Administrative Regulation on the Weapons Act (WaffVwV) to ensure uniform enforcement of the Weapons Act.
Weapons law
In many cases, the handling of weapons, in particular firearms and equivalent objects, requires an official permit. In NRW, the district police authority in whose area the habitual residence of the gun owner or applicant is located is generally responsible for implementing weapons legislation and issuing permits.
National Weapons Register
Since the 3rd Weapons Legislation Amendment Act came into force on 01.01.2018, the national weapons register has been in place. Since the 3rd Weapons Law Amendment Act came into force on 01.09.2020, holders of a weapons manufacturing and trading license in accordance with Section 21 of the Weapons Act (WaffG) are obliged to electronically report in particular the acquisition and transfer, but also the conversion of finished firearms requiring a permit (Section 37 WaffG). This also has implications for private gun owners.
You can find out the most important key points in this flyer.
"Borders" of firearms law
The district of Heinsberg is located directly on the border with the Netherlands. Please note that firearms law is national law and German permits, including the 'small firearms license', are only valid in Germany. You can find more information under the keyword "European firearms pass".
In general, weapons that do not require a permit here (knives, irritant gas, alarm guns),
CANNOT be taken across the border without hesitation.
Your contact persons
The Heinsberg district police authority has several contact persons with different areas of specialization available to answer your questions on weapons law:
- Mr. Michael von Birgelen
- Weapons law matters for clubs, shooting ranges, proceedings under the Administrative Offenses Act, weapons bans, Assembly law
- Mr. Christoph Liphardt
- General firearms law matters and explosives law
- Mr. Niklas Mahr
- General firearms law matters and explosives law
- Ms. Iris Hentschel:
- Small firearms license
Application
Applications for the issue of a firearms permit or other inquiries can be made in writing and should be sent by post or by e-mail to the adjacent contact details of the ZA 1.2 of the Heinsberg police. You can find the relevant forms under "Forms / Applications".
Online applications
Since September 1, 2021, it has also been possible to apply for a small firearms license online. The online application can be found here.
Please note that a copy of your photo ID must be sent to the weapons authority after the application has been submitted.
Further and general information on the small firearms license can also be found on the NRW police internet watchdog.
Please note that the application itself is subject to a fee.
Since September 30, 2022, applications to operate a shooting range (fixed and mobile) can be submitted online via the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRW. The same applies to the notification of the commencement or termination of the operation of a mobile shooting range.
Key storage (ruling by the Higher Administrative Court of Münster; AZ 20 A 2384/20)
In its ruling of 30.08.2023 (ref.: 20 A 2384/20), the Higher Administrative Court of NRW (OVG NRW) specified the requirements for the secure storage of keys for storage containers for weapons and/or ammunition in accordance with Section 36 Para. 1 WaffG. This stipulates that, in principle, keys to weapons or ammunition containers must be stored in containers that meet the legal requirements for storing the weapons and ammunition stored in the weapons or ammunition container, unless the owner of the weapons or ammunition exercises actual control over them. You can find more detailed and further information in the FAQ key storage.
General information on weapons law can be found on the Internet watch of the NRW police.
FAQs
In order to come into possession of a weapon, the requirements described in the Weapons Act must be met, including the age of 18, the required reliability and personal suitability, the presentation of a certificate of competence and proof of a need (e.g. hunter or sports shooter).
A gun ownership card is an official permit to purchase and own a weapon. There are gun ownership cards for sport shooters, hunters and club weapons.
The firearms license is the official permit to carry a weapon (carrying a weapon outside the owner's pacified possession). The firearms license is only issued in strictly regulated exceptions (bodyguards, cash-in-transit companies, endangered persons). In the case of endangered persons, however, the personal feeling of being endangered does not count. There must be a real, i.e. objective threat (e.g. judges, public prosecutors).
The small firearms license entitles the holder to carry alarm weapons (bang and gas) with the PTB mark (Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt) in public. Exception: public events, gatherings.
The small firearms license is not required to carry irritant gas spray bottles.
These objects include knives, simulated weapons (deceptively similar to real weapons) and cutting and thrusting weapons. As a rule, possession is free from the age of 18, but carrying these items is punishable as an administrative offense. The fine can be up to €10,000. Shooting fraternities also require a permit to carry epees and sabres at public appearances.
The competent weapons authority may prohibit someone from possessing weapons or ammunition for which a permit is required if this is necessary to prevent risks to safety or to control the handling of these objects. The weapons ban may also extend to weapons that do not require a permit.
Shooting is only permitted on shooting ranges, except when hunting. These shooting ranges require permission from the relevant firearms authority. They are inspected by a shooting range expert at legally stipulated intervals. Shooting outside of hunting and shooting ranges requires special permission in individual cases.
The district of Heinsberg lies directly on the border with the Netherlands. Despite the EU, firearms law is still a national law. This means that German permits - including the small firearms license - also end at the border.
In order to take or transfer a firearm (hunting weapon, sporting weapon) to the Netherlands, for example, an international permit is required, known as a European Firearms Pass: European firearms pass
Weapons that do not require a permit (knives, irritant gas, alarm weapons) can also NOT be taken across the border without hesitation.
You should check with the police in the country of entry before planning to take them with you.