Example of participation in the legislative process by the Bundesrat

Demand by the Bundesrat that the Mediation Committee be convened

During its 776th sitting on 31 May 2002 the Bundesrat decided to demand that, pursuant to Article 77, paragraph (2) of the Basic Law, the Mediation Committee be convened with respect to the bill adopted by the German Bundestag on 26 April 2002 for the following reason:

The bill must be revised with regard to the following points and the related regulations:

- raising the minimum age for the acquisition and possession of firearms
- medical and psychological examination as a prerequisite for the acquisition and possession of authorizations under the weapons law
- supervision of the firearms training of minors
- official approval of the rules of target shooting
- definition of target shooting to differentiate between target shooting and combat shooting
- ban on pump action shotguns
- restriction of the easier acquisition of dangerous second hand weapons by target shooters
- specification of the provisions on the storage of large calibre ammunition at home by target shooters
- obligation on weapons dealers to notify the relevant authorities of the sale of firearms
- possibilities for target shooting associations to supervise the shooting clubs which are affiliated with them
- minimum age under which children would not be allowed to shoot

Reasons

The tragic events in Erfurt mean that it is necessary to revise the draft Act to Reform the Weapons Law adopted by the Bundestag. Specifically, regulation is required in the eleven areas set out in greater detail below, which are linked to the security problems relating to the acquisition and possession of firearms that came to light in Erfurt.

The following individual aspects, among others, must be taken into consideration:

1. Raising the minimum age for the acquisition and possession of firearms by target shooters and hunters; if necessary, introducing a medical and psychological test as a prerequisite for the acquisition and possession of firearms until a certain age: