Bavaria's interior minister Herrmann: Faeser's planned knife bans offer only "fake security"
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) criticizes the knife bans planned by Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) as "symbolic politics". The increase in knife-related crimes in recent years is concerning. However, carrying knives is already heavily restricted: "That further knife bans can solve the problem of knife crime must be doubted," Herrmann told the "Munich Mercury" (Monday). For example, the killing of a police officer in Mannheim was committed "with a knife whose possession was already prohibited by current law."
Moreover, it is questionable "how this can be effectively controlled in practice, especially at very busy places. Without consistent control, further bans only offer a false sense of security," said the CSU politician. The argument of deterrence through punishment also fails to convince: "Because a potential attacker would likely not care if they commit another crime alongside the capital offense punishable by up to life imprisonment." Herrmann suggests instead giving the police more control powers and focusing more on repeat and habitual offenders.
Faeser had announced stricter rules in the face of recently increased numbers of knife attacks in the "Bild am Sonntag". In public, knives may only be carried with a blade length of up to six centimeters instead of the current twelve centimeters. A general ban on switchblades is to be created. Corresponding changes to the weapons law will be presented soon, said Faeser. She also called on municipalities to create more weapon and knife ban zones.
The Bavarian Interior Minister, Joachim Herrmann, questioned, "- What is the effectiveness of Faeser's proposed knife bans?" His doubts arise from the challenge of enforcing such rules, especially at crowded places. Furthermore, Herrmann pointed out that stringent knife controls already exist, as demonstrated by the Mannheim case where a prohibited knife was used in a fatal attack.
