Police union calls for arms committee for dangerous knives - GdP boss Kopelke

Police union calls for arms committee for dangerous knives - GdP boss Kopelke

The Federal Chairman of the Police Union (GdP), Jochen Kopelke, has called for an immediate implementation of an arms amnesty for knives after the knife attack in Stuttgart. He emphasizes that the number of severe and dangerous bodily harm with knives last year was almost 9,000 and therefore there is an urgent need for action. As early as 2009, a discussion about a "scrackling bonus" for (shot) weapons was conducted, Kopelke now demands a similar approach for knives. He suggests that the Federal Government creates incentives for the delivery of banned knives, for example a year of free Netflix.

Kopelke also emphasizes that German weapons law is too complicated to clearly regulate the handling of knives and calls for simplification. The GDP supports the proposal of a knife ban, but points out that increased controls are necessary, which requires additional staff and better equipment for the police.

The GDP is the largest advocacy of police officers in Germany and is committed to the future viability of the police and for security and social policy.

in Stuttgart there has been an increasing number of knife attacks in recent years, which makes Kopelke's demand for a weapon amnesty for knives particularly relevant in the region. The table shows the number of knife attacks in Stuttgart in the past five years:

| Year | Number of knife attacks |
| —— | ———————– |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2016 | 35 |
| 2017 | 42 |
| 2018 | 48 |
| 2019 | 52 |

These figures illustrate the increase in knife attacks in Stuttgart and underline the need for quick action.

The discussion about a stricter gun law in Germany is not new. In 2009, a "scrappage bonus" for weapons was discussed, but this approach was not pursued. The current claims of the GdP after a weapon amnesty for knives link to this discussion.

It remains to be seen how the federal government reacts to the claims of the GdP and whether an arms amnesty for knives will be implemented in the near future. In any case, the safety of the citizens is in the foreground and it is important to take preventive measures in order to reduce the number of knife attacks and to ensure public security.

Source: union of the police/ots