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Example of a bill

German Bundestag 12th electoral term	Printed paper 12/1869
20.12.91
		Subject area 7620
Bill introduced by the Federal Government Draft Act to Reform the Weapons Law A. Problem and objectives The weapons law in force is, in terms of its structure and regulatory content, complicated, difficult to understand, and does not cover all the relevant issues. The new Weapons Act is to focus exclusively on public security, and the provisions on the technical safety of weapons and ammunition are to be transferred from the previous Weapons Act to a separate Proof Testing Act. This is intended to improve the transparency and applicability of both regulations, and to make them easier to understand. Moreover, the misuse of weapons is to be further restricted. B. Solution Within the framework of an `article law', a new version of the Weapons Act is to be introduced (Article 1), the provisions on the technical safety of weapons and ammunition are to be transferred to a separate Proof Testing Act (Article 2), and the necessary adaptations are to be made to regulations in other laws relating to weapons law (Articles 3 to 15); in this light, attention is drawn in particular to the adaptation of the War Weapons Control Act (Article 3) and the Federal Hunting Act (Article 14). The new Weapons Act primarily regulates the private acquisition, possession and use of weapons; this is followed by provisions relating to manufacturers, dealers and other commercial usage. Separate provisions have been created for each of the main user groups, such as target shooters, hunters, persons who are at risk and collectors. This Act aims to curb the misuse of weapons by tightening the fitness criteria which weapons owners must meet, introducing a so called minor firearms certificate for spray devices and blank cartridge weapons, and extending the ban on the misuse of dangerous knives. C. Alternatives None D. Financial effects on the public budget 1. Budget expenditure excluding cost of execution None 2. Cost of execution Local authorities will not be affected by the execution of the Act. The planned substantive amendments to the Weapons Act and the Proof Testing Act and the legal provisions to be issued pursuant to these Acts will extend the official duties to be performed at federal level and, to a much lesser extent, also at the level of the Länder. The execution of the Weapons Act will require approximately four posts, as the power to issue authorizations under the weapons law to members of foreign armed forces stationed in Germany is to be transferred from the Länder to the Federal Office of Administration. To the extent that further tests under the Proof Testing Act will be carried out by the proof houses of the Länder, additional personnel will probably not be required. The necessary non personnel expenditure will be covered by the revenue from fees. In connection with the cost ordinance on the Weapons Act being replaced by cost ordinances on the Weapons Act and on the Proof Testing Act, the fees for official acts, checks and examinations under the Weapons Act, the Proof Testing Act and the ordinances based on both of these Acts are to be brought into line with current costs. E. Other costs The associations concerned have not commented on costs to the economy resulting from the reform.

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