Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) - The state government is clearing the way for gun ban zones in the municipalities in the southwest. The cabinet released several ordinances for hearing on Tuesday, which should enable the municipalities to set up such zones, as the German Press Agency in Stuttgart learned. The municipal associations can now comment on the drafts. "Violent crimes in public spaces using weapons, especially knives, can have a lasting negative impact on the population's sense of security," said Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU).
One in ten cases of violent crime in the South West last year - around 14,900 cases - was related to a knife, according to the ministry. 24 people were killed. "A ban or restriction on carrying weapons in certain places is therefore a good way to effectively counteract this violence." Anyone who enters a no-gun zone with a gun risks a fine of up to 10,000 euros. Exceptions for knives, for example, should apply to anglers or craftsmen. The regulations are initially designed for two years - and are to be evaluated during this period.
