Firearms Warning in Germany

Week of May 11, 2009

U.S. military personnel in Germany with firearms at home must strictly meet the terms of the German firearms storage and registration laws. Guns owners must list all their privately owned firearms on a valid Waffenbestizkarte (German weapons registration) and store them in containers that meet German standards. Violators of the law face severe fines and confiscation of the firearms. Rules for handgun and rifle storage safes in Germany can be found on the European Morale, Welfare and Recreation website. More information on firearms ownership in Germany is available by calling the vehicle registry at 386-7123 or 0621-718-7123. Information on shipping firearms stateside is available from the U.S. European Command Customs Executive Agency at 381-7466 or 0621-730-7466.