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Right-wing extremists in Germany: 2,500 legal weapons despite the action plan!
In the Rhein-Lahn district, gun ownership among extremists is being discussed, while surveys point to existing dangers.
Right-wing extremists in Germany: 2,500 legal weapons despite the action plan!
In recent years, Germany has repeatedly struggled with the question of how to deal with the possession of weapons by extremists. The federal government at the time initiated an action plan against right-wing extremism that was intended to ensure more security. But the current survey by NDR and WDR shows that the goals of this plan have so far been missed. At least 2,500 firearms are still legally owned by people classified as extremists. This information sheds new light on the challenges the country faces in combating extremism. According to ben-kurier.de, over two thirds of these weapons - exactly 1,765 - are in the possession of right-wing extremists, neo-Nazis, “Reich citizens” or radical lateral thinkers.
What is particularly alarming is that the actual number of extremist gun owners could be even higher. So far, only 11 of 16 federal states have published data on gun owners. The legal gray areas and data gaps make a serious assessment of the situation extremely difficult. Baden-Württemberg tops the list with 661 firearms, followed by Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 447 and Rhineland-Palatinate with 386, all with right-wing extremist gun owners. This raises questions about the effectiveness of nationwide gun laws, which came under fire, particularly after the tragic attack in Hanau in 2020. The assassin had also acquired his weapons legally, although he had already come to the attention of the authorities. Here, Nancy Faeser, the then Interior Minister, announced that gun laws would be tightened in order to make it easier to take away weapons from extremists, as [tagesschau.de](https://www.tagesschau.de/investigativ/ndr-wdr/ Waffenhaben-legal-extremisten-100.html) reports.
Current developments and statistics
Around 1,500 people with weapons permits are anchored in the extremist scene, where more than 1,000 of them are classified as neo-Nazis or “Reich citizens”. For comparison: fewer than 150 people come from other extremist spectrums, such as left-wing extremist or Islamist areas. These figures are not only shocking, but also highlight the urgency with which this issue needs to be addressed.
According to the reports, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution registered a 47.4% increase in right-wing extremist crimes in 2024 compared to the previous year. With a total of 37,835 right-wing extremist crimes and an increase in violent acts of 11.6% to 1,281 cases, a worrying picture is emerging. This makes it clear that the methods to combat right-wing extremism should not only target gun ownership, but must also address the increasing willingness to use violence in the scene. The Verfassungsschutz reports that the violent right-wing extremist potential in Germany is now around 15,300 people.
These developments raise the question of whether the planned measures from the action plan against right-wing extremism are sufficient to bring about lasting change. So far in 2024, over 300 gun licenses have been revoked or voluntarily returned, mostly by right-wing extremists or “Reich citizens”. Despite these returns, access to legal firearms for extremists remains a critical issue that cannot be ignored.
In this context, it is to be hoped that future political steps will meet the challenges and, above all, keep the focus on victim protection in order to ensure a safe society for everyone.