(OT) But ...
 

This article appeared in a local newspaper, about the shooting in Germany. Check it out.



"New Killings Will Reignite Gun Banners"

Re: (OT) But ...
 

Like I said, if all those people that got shot were armed, how many would still be alive! Thor

Re: (OT) But ...
 

The NY Times reported that they are going to ban pump action shotguns in Germany because of this.

US Army and gun bans
 

Even durring the Nazi rule, people (at least some)in Germany could own guns. It wasn't until the Allies defeated them that Germans were virtually banned from having guns. Occupying armies NEVER like armed civilians.

Re: US Army and gun bans
 

Steve is quite correct. One of the first orders promulgated by Allied Occupation Forces prohibited private possession of weapons in Germany. As a result many, many hundreds of priceless antiques were turned over by citizens to military authorities, which sometimes happened to be the first GI they encountered.


My dad who was there said that he saw antique cross bows, wheel locks and the odd civil war vintage colt cap and ball being turned in as well as the thousands of Lugers, P-38s, MP-40s, etc, etc.


The German's had, by spring 1945, all the the fight beaten out of them and were simply trying to do anything to stay in areas controlled by the Brits and Americans. If this meant giving up everything, it was far preferable to falling into hands of the rooskies.


Tom

Re: US Army and gun bans
 

And what happened to these weapons will make you cry. They were destroyed. I met a retired army officer at a gun show who was displaying a gorgeously made--engraved, carved--early European hunting rifle, truly a work of art in both its superficial and mechanical aspect. He related as how he was walking by a pile of confiscated personal guns, spotted it in the pile, and told the Sergeant in charge that he didn't think the rifle needed to stay in the pile. The Sergeant didn't agree with him, but complied because, well, he -did- out-rank him. He retrieved the rifle, and then watched them as they proceeded to run a tank back and forth over the pile.


--Dwight