German court rules AfD members may be banned from weapon ownership

The Higher Administrative Court of Saxony-Anhalt has issued a precedent-setting ruling stating that members of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party may be prohibited from owning weapons solely based on their party affiliation. The court upheld a previous decision to revoke the firearms licenses of three AfD members, reasoning that individuals supporting an unconstitutional organization are considered unreliable under weapons laws. The state does not need to wait for criminal acts to occur to proactively mitigate risks.

While the AfD is not currently classified as an unconstitutional organization and remains eligible to run in elections, the ruling could impact over 100 AfD members in Saxony-Anhalt who hold firearms licenses. Interior Minister Tamara Zieschang (CDU) welcomed the decision, stating that extremist weapon ownership poses a danger to the democratic state and its citizens. Conversely, Green Party politician Sebastian Striegel argued that mere membership in the AfD should be sufficient grounds for disqualification under weapons laws.

Amidst these legal developments, political tension rises ahead of upcoming state elections. Recent polling suggests the AfD could receive up to 42 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt. While some media outlets have expressed alarm over the potential rise of the party, Bild editor-in-chief Robert Schneider has criticized such panic, arguing that election results reflect the will of the citizens and can be changed in subsequent votes.