A German court decided that a special forces soldier, who had served in Afghanistan and believes he’s vulnerable to jihadi extremist attacks, doesn’t qualify for a private weapons permit. The soldier’s initial application in 2016 was declined by the police, and though a court in Minden supported him, a superior court in Muenster overruled the decision.
Key Points:
- The soldier, a 42-year-old member of the German military’s KSK special forces unit, had applied for a weapon permit in 2016 citing fears of jihadi attacks.
- The court in Muenster stated that individuals fearing attacks could only get weapons permits if they prove they’re at a significantly higher risk than the general populace.
- The court found no evidence suggesting that KSK members face an increased threat or that the soldier had been specifically identified as a target by Islamist groups.
- The court also didn’t find proof that having a firearm would necessarily diminish any potential risk to the soldier.
- German forces, along with other Western troops, withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021 after an approximately 20-year deployment.
