Anyone who has historical weapons in their home – even if they are old heirlooms – must find out about the weapons law and war weapons control law. The Neubrandenburg District Court has now pointed this out in connection with a current case.
Some parts “found in Lake Kummerow”
In a town near Demmin, firearms and ammunition were accidentally confiscated from a militaria collector, including an old muzzle-loading rifle and a revolver from the First World War, as well as rusted parts of a machine gun, an armor-piercing bullet and a box with relatively modern hunting ammunition.
The officers had actually looked around the family’s house back in July 2022 because of a completely different allegation. A number of weapons and ammunition were found. One part was in a display case, where there were also sabers, military medals and other military parts. “My grandfather already had the weapons from the First World War,” explained the defendant, who confessed during the trial.
The trained engine fitter continued that he found the rusted parts of a carbine and a machine gun “while snorkeling in Lake Kummerow.” A military plane is said to have crashed there once. There was also a dummy bazooka and a so-called salute rifle in the house.
LKA experts evaluated the finds
The 63-year-old, who once had a gun license but had it revoked after driving drunk, now had to answer for all of these things in the district court.
Experts from the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania State Criminal Police Office gave a technical assessment. They determined that the armor-piercing bullet definitely still fell under the War Weapons Control Act. A rifle and the revolver are also still functional, so you would need a permit for them.
The collector claims to have only found the hunting ammunition – 25 cartridges and a corresponding box – near a hunting lodge shortly before the search in 2022. He actually wanted to give this to a responsible forester, but he never got around to it.
Judge Juliane Söhnchen, here with a lay judge, handed the 63-year-old gun collector a fine (from left, right the accused’s lawyer). (Photo: Winfried Wagner)
After a short trial, judge Juliane Söhnchen finally found the 63-year-old guilty of violating the War Weapons Control Act in a less serious case and violating weapons law.
Sentence accepted in court
The Demmin native, who described himself as unemployed and without income, received a fine of 70 daily rates of 15 euros each, i.e. 1,050 euros. This penalty – 300 euros less than the public prosecutor’s office originally wanted – was based on his wife’s income, it was said. This was stated as 2000 euros net per month.
As an ex-owner of a gun card, he knew what he had, explained Söhnchen. It was considered in the collector’s favor that the defendant waived the return of almost all of the confiscated weapons – except for a harmless replica of a submachine gun.
“Even if you inherit something like that, that doesn’t release you from the obligation to find out more about it,” explained the judge at the end. The judgment is already legally binding. Both sides accepted the punishment in the hearing room.
