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US Army. 2006 ‘Acquisition and Possession of Privately Owned Firearms in Germany.’ US Army Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation / FMWR. Heidelberg: United States Military Command Europe. 3 January

Relevant contents

In the context of this article a weapon or firearm is a device that uses cartridges and fires bullets or shot (e.g. a shot gun, a .30-06, a .22, 9mm, etc.), but also includes high-powered air rifles (more than 7.5 joules).

Singleshot black powder guns, low-power air rifles, soft-air, paint-ball markers, starter/signal pistols, bows, cross-bows may also be considered weapons but are treated differently. Starter or signal pistols, for example, may be kept permit-free within your apartment or house. If you intend to take a starter/signal pistol outside your residence you will have to have a Small Weapons Permit …

German firearms law provides for two separate methods of obtaining such a WBK for legal POF ownership. There are some other exceptions but under normal circumstances these exceptions will not apply to most US Forces members. The two methods are both founded on the concept of establishing a "need" to have POF:

1. A licensed hunter in Germany has a need to own certain weapons for hunting;

2. A sport shooter has a need to own certain weapons to conduct that sport.

Each category has certain procedures and restrictions that need to be observed. An individual may also become both a hunter and a sport shooter …

A hunter may normally not purchase more than 2 POF in a 6 month period, may own up to two hand guns (for final kill shots of wounded animals only and range shooting) and any reasonable number of long (no fully automatic weapons and no weapons of war).

ID: Q2141

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