Spotted these guys while watching the fireworks. They were shooting a gun and pointing it around. I am an expat, is this normal?

by PlasticEnthusiasm

14 comments

  1. No, it’s not normal to shoot guns. Call police and tell them (and also that you have a video).

  2. Not normal, please call the police before someone gets hurt. He’s losing the license if he has one at all.

  3. Back in Mannheim about 10 years ago folks told me it was normal. Someone confirmed those folks shoot blanks.

    But yeah… scared the crap outta me.

  4. This is not normal, report this to the police.

    Hopefully, those are blanks and not live rounds. I moved here from the USA and celebratory gunfire has killed random people there because those bullets eventually come down. Germany is more densely populated, so this is even more dangerous.

  5. No it’s illegal to shoot a gas gun (probably the one he has) in public (except for some reasons, new year isn’t one of them; also carrying such a gun in public needs a permit). You can call the police. Thing is, depending on region the police can be very accommodate towards the shooter on new year if it’s “just” a gas gun

  6. It’s likely a “Schreckschusspistole” or a blank gun.
    It only fires blanks, flash cartridges or pepper spray, these can be bought by anyone above 18. Carrying requires a “kleinen Waffenschein”, which pretty much anyone can get after registering.

    You are however only allowed to use it in self defense or on your own properly without bothering anyone.

    Shooting it in public for fun is not okay, not even during New Year.

  9. Germans do really love Italian traditions!
    (/s, I’m Italian)

  10. A year ago I moved to Germany and not knowing better went for a walk in New Year’s Eve after midnight. Had the same experience of people shooting in the air, and of course lots of “specific” people being dumb with fireworks. Had my rose colored glasses completely shattered.

  11. If you see soemone with a gun in germany ALWAYS call the police, if they fire or not, call them!

  12. You are allowed to use a Blank shot pistol on private property if it is fenced and therefore recognisable as such and trespassing is prevented. You are allowed to use it as the owner of the property or with his permission. In public places like the street you would need the permission of the municipality which no one gets. So it is illegal to fire blank’s just for fun in the streets.

  14. It’s blank guns. I have seen people firing these on busy Berlin street right next to police… Unfortunately the police will not do anything.

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