Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - In North Rhine-Westphalia, more people have a small gun license than ever before. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the number of permits granted was 189,478 as of August 31. At the end of last year there were still 181,072, in 2020 it was almost 175,000. For comparison: in 2015, the number of small gun licenses issued was significantly lower at just under 71,000. As can be seen from the state government's response to a small inquiry by the AfD in the state parliament, the numbers have been rising steadily for ten years.
With a small firearms license, you can carry stun guns or gas guns in public. You have to be at least 18 years old for the small gun license. The competent authority checks the reliability and the "personal suitability for carrying a weapon", as stated on a police information page.
According to crime statistics, the number of cases in which a gas, irritant or alarm gun was used or shot at is not increasing. There were 637 registered cases in 2019, 401 cases in 2020 and 270 cases in 2021.
