The discussion about a knife ban in public places is fiercely led in Bavaria, last brought the government parties CSU and free voters a request to it in the federal state parliament. Now vice-prime minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) has gone even further with his demands - and has thus received massive criticism.
Trigger is a statement from Aiwangers on Friday. At the opening of the International Hunting and Shooting Days, he said, "I'm sure Bavaria and Germany would be safer if every decent man and every decent woman could have a knife in their pockets and we'd lock up the serious criminals Path."
He expressed incomprehension that on the one hand on a penknife ban in public places will be spoken, but on the other hand allegedly shrugs it is accepted that "people with multiple crimes and assault offenses" freely moved in Germany.
"Not only stupid, but also dangerous"
Greens parliamentary leader Katharina Schulze told the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation (BR), Aiwangers "Recommendation to the Bavarians and Bavarians to carry a self-defense knife in everyday life," was "not only stupid, but also dangerous." The opposition leader accused Aiwanger of "medieval ideas for conflict resolution".
The Bavarian SPD also sharply criticized the Deputy Prime Minister Markus Söder. Group leader Horst Arnold said that serious security policy does not "go with pocket knife populists who dreadfully shrink the dignity of Deputy Prime Minister" and warned of the consequences of "public arming".
Aiwanger himself saw no reason to correct his statements. "The constant tightening of the weapons law for law-abiding citizens lead past the topic," he said, according to BR.
Prime Minister Söder stated that he did not know Aiwanger's statement and therefore did not want to comment on it. But as she fell, she could come from him.
Nationwide discussion about knife bans continues
At the request of Lower Saxony and Bremen, the Federal Council is currently examining a ban on knives in many public places in Germany. This should include the possibility of prohibited areas in places where many people are present - such as in pedestrian areas, shopping malls, public transport or around kindergartens and schools. The municipalities may already set up such zones.
Bavaria's interior minister had said to the BR in May, the Free State would not interfere too much in the rights of citizens. If somebody has his party cutlery for a picnic in the summer, a ban on knives would be problematic. It is not normal, of course, "that someone carries a knife at every opportunity".
