Authorities in Saxony-Anhalt are cracking down on gun ownership among AfD party members, citing concerns over reliability under the Weapons Act.
So far, the Ministry of the Interior has issued five revocation notices, and one member voluntarily relinquished his gun license during the revocation process. In total, 51 cases are currently under review, according to the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.
As of now, 74 AfD members in Saxony-Anhalt possess firearms licenses, including 49 marksmen and 25 hunters. This group collectively owns 330 firearms, comprising 99 pistols and 231 rifles.
The scrutiny stems from the November 2023 decision by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution to classify the AfD’s national association as right-wing extremist. This classification prompted authorities to reassess the reliability of gun owners affiliated with the party. The Weapons Act stipulates that gun owners must demonstrate reliability, and membership in an organization deemed unconstitutional can undermine this requirement.
Judicial rulings have offered mixed guidance. In April 2023, Saxony-Anhalt’s Higher Administrative Court determined that AfD membership alone doesn’t inherently disqualify an individual under arms law. However, in August 2024, the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia upheld the revocation of gun permits for AfD members in urgent cases.
The situation remains a contentious legal and political issue, with potential implications for gun ownership rights and constitutional oversight in Germany.
