German court rules AfD members may lose gun permits due to party affiliation

In a significant ruling, Germany's Higher Administrative Court in Saxony-Anhalt has determined that members of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party can be deemed unreliable and consequently lose their gun permits. The court found sufficient legal basis to revoke these permits solely based on an individual's affiliation with the AfD.

The decision stems from concerns that individuals associated with the AfD may pose a risk to the democratic order and public safety. The court stated that the state does not need to wait for actual criminal acts or harm to occur, but can proactively minimize risks by revoking permits from those deemed unreliable.

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The state does not need to wait for criminal acts or harm to occur, but can proactively minimize risks.

This ruling could affect over 100 AfD members in Saxony-Anhalt who are currently undergoing reviews for their gun permits. The state's Interior Ministry has indicated it will use these judgments to encourage lower-level authorities to continue similar reviews. The AfD has reacted by considering a constitutional complaint against the court's decision.

Meanwhile, the Green Party has called for further scrutiny of gun ownership across the country, suggesting that the reliability checks should extend beyond AfD members. The Interior Minister of Saxony-Anhalt, Tamara Zieschang, emphasized that the possession of firearms by extremists poses a danger to the democratic rule of law and all citizens, reinforcing the necessity of these checks.

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The possession of firearms by extremists poses a danger to the democratic rule of law and all citizens.