Illegal firearm circulation and crime in Germany

The discussion regarding illegal firearms in Germany has shifted from calls for better crime statistics to reports of rising armed crime in the capital.

The German Hunting Association (DJV) initially urged the federal government to implement a nationwide crime-statistics system to differentiate between offenses involving legal and illegal weapons. Association president Helmut Dammann-Tamke criticized recent gun law tightening as a “placebo,” suggesting instead that focus should be placed on dismantling the estimated 20 million illegal weapons in circulation through undercover investigations and specialized task forces.

Following these calls, Berlin reported a significant surge in armed crime, with firearm-related incidents or threats increasing by 68% compared to 2024. While nationwide shootings have declined, Berlin has seen fatal shootings and gunfire directed at public locations. Authorities identified several sources for these weapons, including underground workshops in Czechia, flows from Turkey, the conversion of gas pistols into lethal firearms, and the use of 3D-printed weapons. In response to the violence, special task forces have been established, leading to 50 arrests.