Neumünster: Police in action because of toy weapons – a dangerous faux pas!

Neumünster: Police in action because of toy weapons – a dangerous faux pas!

On Thursday evening there was a surprising police operation in Neumünster that didn't do justice to a toy at all. An alert woman saw a man with a long gun at the Sachsenring/Haart intersection around 8:30 p.m. and immediately alerted the police. This report didn't bother the officers for long, and it didn't take long before several patrol cars from Neumünster and the surrounding area were deployed. This situation may not have been an everyday occurrence for the police officers deployed.

When the first emergency services arrived at the scene, they saw the suspicious man entering a nearby apartment building. However, the picture that presented itself to them was deceptive. Because when two men later approached the officers and explained that they had previously played with water pistols, it soon became clear that the “weapon” was not what it seemed to be. The police searched the apartment of one of the men and discovered that the alleged long gun was a detailed replica of a submachine gun. [KN Online].

Weapons law violations

The police didn't leave it at that. She confiscated the toy weapon and initiated proceedings to impose a fine. The reason? In Germany, carrying sham weapons in public is prohibited, a regulation that has been in effect since gun laws were tightened in 2008. This legislation aims to avoid such confusion and potential danger by prohibiting the carrying of toy guns that look confusingly similar to real guns. [Is it tenable](https://www.isteshaltbar.de/frage-und- Answer/sind-toyweapons-erlaubt) explains that violations of these regulations can be punished with significant fines, which can be costly for those affected.

Just recently there was a similar incident in Lower Bavaria, in which two teenagers went to an ATM with a toy gun. Here too, the police were alerted and the young people were finally arrested without resistance. Her “toy” also turned out to be harmless, but the authorities are investigating it for disturbing the public peace and possibly violating the weapons law. Die Zeit reported that no one was endangered in either case.

The growing problem

The incidents in Neumünster and Lower Bavaria raise questions about how dangerous playing with pretend weapons can really be. At a time when awareness of gun violence is increasing, it is particularly important that young people and their parents gain a sense of legal boundaries. Toy guns quickly attract attention and, as these incidents show, can cause unnecessary panic.

In Neumünster the man will now have to face consequences. The impending fine process, which is probably not exactly cheap, should serve as a warning to anyone who carelessly handles toy weapons and the like. One thing is certain: a game that doesn't just stay in your head can quickly have repercussions.