Germany mulls paintball ban in wake of killings

[philw]

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1017617/Germany-mulls-paintball-ban-in-wake-of-killings

Germany mulls paintball ban in wake of killings

08 May 2009 | 02:00:41 PM | Source: AFP

The German government has agreed to curb gun rights, two months after a 17-year-old killed 15 people with a pistol taken from his father's bedroom, according to press reports.

The proposals on the table include banning paintball, a game in which players use air rifles to shoot ammunition filled with paint at opponents. Lawmakers say the sport "simulates killing" and should be outlawed.

Target practice under fire

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The draft law would also bar youths under the age of 18 from shooting high-calibre guns at target practice and permit police to conduct checks at the homes of gun owners to ensure their weapons are under lock and key.

"We have agreed on reasonable changes that will mean more security without over-regulating hobby marksmen and hunters," the deputy head of the conservative Christian Union parliamentary group, Wolfgang Bosbach, told the Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung.

The move comes amid a fierce debate touched off by the bloodbath in mid-March in which Tim Kretschmer shot nine pupils and three teachers at his old school in Winnenden, southwestern Germany plus three passers-by before killing himself.

Biometric weapon identification

An electronic registry of firearms would also be introduced along with biometric security systems to help ensure weapons are only used by their rightful owners.

In addition, lawmakers would introduce an amnesty for owners of illegal firearms if they turn them in to authorities.

Parents want more restrictions

Relatives of the victims of the school shooting criticised the planned measures as insufficient.

"Guns have no place in the home," Hardy Schober, whose 16-year-old daughter was killed in Winnenden, told the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung.

Schober leads a group of Winnenden parents who have lobbied since the killings for tougher gun laws.

[Texas_Bryan]

I think we can all agree, and history proves me right, guns don't kill people, Germans do.

[fightingquaker13]

I think we can all agree, and history proves me right, guns don't kill people, Germans do.

I don't want to get 911 mad at me so I'll just say that I heard nothing, I saw nothing and I know nothing.
FQ13 who is shaking with disgust and not restrained laughter

[philw]

I don't want to get 911 mad at me so I'll just say that I heard nothing, I saw nothing and I know nothing.
FQ13 who is shaking with disgust and not restrained laughter

come on FQ13  you had to pick your self off the floor  to post that.....

[ericire12]

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php/topic,6627.0.html

[Sponsor]

[mosbear]

I think we can all agree, and history proves me right, guns don't kill people, Germans people do.

[Texas_Bryan]

I think we can all agree, and history proves me right, guns don't kill people, Germans people do.

Germans are people.  OK then, then lets agree everyone kills everyone, but especially our friends in question.

[graywolf]

I guess that means they're against dodgeball, tag and Red Rover...Ok I may be dating myself on the last one.  It's apparent to me that the Germans can't get excited about anything unless it involves a guy on a balcony, an oompah band and a beer hall.