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Important questions and answers (FAQ) about Enforce Tac
1. Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA)
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1.1. Does the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) approve firearms and items that are not prohibited in Germany to be imported, re-exported and presented at Enforce Tac?No. Its only jurisdiction is to issue exception permits for prohibited items to be imported, re-exported and presented at Enforce Tac. For the import and re-export of firearms and articles that are no prohibited items other rules apply.
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1.2. Must a special exception permit for prohibited items be applied for every year anew?Yes, even if it is for the same prohibited items that a permit was issued in the year before already. The BKA completely reviews the applications anew, especially also because there could have been an amendment in the meantime.
2. AR-15/M16- and AK 47/74-style assault rifle / War-Gun
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2.1. How must rifles that optically resemble AR-15 or M16 assault rifles or AK47 or AK74 assault rifles regarding Enforce Tac?If these firearms actually are the military assault rifles mentioned below (see 2.2.) or if other criteria are applicable (see 2.2) they only can be presented with a relevant approval by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy V B 8 - Military Weapons Control - (see point 5 in the Enforce Tac Weapon Guidelines).
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2.2. What are the criteria that must be met that an AR-15 or M16 style assault rifle needs an approval from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy to be imported and presented at Enforce Tac?
- It is an original military (usually full-auto) assault rifle that - like the original full-auto AR-15 or M16 or AK47 or AK74 assault rifles - is enlisted in the Military Weapons Control Act (KrWaffKontrG).
- Though it only shoots semi-automatically it contains parts that are identical to parts of the original military weapon (these parts are a full-auto bolt and/or an upper receiver with an "auto searcut" milling grove and/or a barrel that comes from a military production line and has exactly the same measurement as the original military firearm barrel!).
Please note: the mere single parts of the original military assault rifle mentioned above are individually completely banned according the KrWaffKontrG as well!
The following illustrations show the different criteria that are relevant under German law for a classification as a fully automatic or semi-automatic weapon!
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2.3. Can non-military, mere semi-automatic AR-15 and M16 assault rifle clones that have an “auto searcut” milling grove in their upper receivers be imported, re-exported and displayed at Enforce Tac?
Yes. But only when an approval from the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy is availabe. An existing “auto searcut” milling grove implies that such a firearms is classified as military weapon. -
2.4. Is it possible that the Federal Investigation Office (BKA) issues an exception permit to import and present AR-15- or M16 style assault rifles that are weapons of war according the Military Weapons Control Act (KrWaffKontrG)?No. The German Federal Investigation Office (BKA) only issues special exception permits for firearms and articles contained in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’".
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2.5. What happens if it is detected that totally banned “weapons of war” were imported without approval for Enforce Tac presentation purposes or that they are presented without approval at Enforce Tac?If authorities realize that totally banned firearms or parts were imported or are exhibited without approval at Enforce Tac these items will be seized and the exhibitor will be punished by law.
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2.6. May semi-automatic shotguns or pump-action shotguns that optically resemble military-style assault rifles, especially AR-15 and M16 style guns, but also AK47 and AK74 style guns, be inadmissible for Enforce Tac so that they cannot be imported for Enforce Tac presentation purposes and re-exported?No. The “weapon of war” criterion only applies for rifles. Semi-automatic shotguns and pump-action shotguns, whether optically resembling military-style assault rifles or not, can only be prohibited firearms that you need a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) if they meet other prohibition criteria which can be seen in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’".
3. Particular weapons and items
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3.1. Can handguns (usually revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, overall-length up to 60 cm / 23.6”) be prohi-bited firearms, so that there is a need to apply for a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigaton Office (BKA) for them?No. - Exception: ONLY multi-round handguns for center fire ignition ammunition with a caliber of less than 6.3 mm / .25” are prohibited and there is a need to apply for a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigaton Office (BKA) for them (see number 8 in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’" in “Important Information concerning Transport and Presentation of Firearms”). Handguns with a caliber of more than 6.3 mm CANNOT be prohibited items!
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3.2. Is a side-by-side or a over-and-under double barrel shotgun with an overall length of less than 60 cm / 23.6” (usually with a pistol grip instead of a shoulder stock) a prohibited item in Germany?No. Import, re-export and presentation at Enforce Tac are allowed if the rules are observed. The firearm is classified as a handgun because of its overall length.
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3.3. Can a military assault rifle, a submachine gun or a machine gun be presented at Enforce Tac and be imported and re-exported for Enforce Tac presentation purposes?Such guns are firearms enlisted in the Military Weapons Control Act (KrWaffKontrG), which can only be presents with a relevant approval from the Federal Ministry of Economics and technology.
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3.4. Do mere magazines of firearms need a special license for? Is there a maximum magazine capacity?Detachable magazines for handguns (total length up to 60 cm/23.6") for central fire ammunition (not for rimfire ammunition!), that can hold more than 20 cartridges, as well as detachable magazines for long guns (total length more than 60 cm/23.6") for central fire ammunition (not for rimfire ammunition!), that can hold more than 10 cartridges, now are classified as prohibited items in Germany. Also, pure magazine housings for magazines with the corresponding magazine capacities are now classified as prohibited items. An exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) must be applied for the import and export as well as for the Enforce Tac presentation of such magazines (see no. 38-42 in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’"). Magazines with a lower magazine capacity are still neither prohibited nor subject to permission!
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3.5. Can firearms with fixed, built-in magazines be prohibited weapons due to their magazine capacity, for whose import, exhibition at EnforceTac and re-export a special permit of the BKA is required?Semi-automatic handguns (total length up to 60 cm/23.6") for central fire ammunition (not for rimfire ammunition!) with a fixed, built-in magazine with a capacity of more than 20 cartridges and long guns (total length more than 60 cm/23.6") for central fire ammunition (not for rimfire ammunition!) with a fixed, built-in magazine with a capacity of more than 10 cartridges are classified as prohibited firearms now. An exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) must be applied for the import and export as well as for the Enforce Tac presentation of such firearms (see no. 38-42 in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’").
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3.6. What is the difference between night vision devices being prohibited and being allowed?
Pure night vision devices are usually hand-held devices with an image converter or electronic light amplification, including those based on thermal imaging technology, used solely for observation in poor light conditions, without reticle and without the possibility of attachment to a gun or to a scope. These are no prohibited items.
Night aiming devices, on the other hand, are devices with an image converter or electronic light amplification, including those based on thermal imaging technology, intended for aiming with guns in low light conditions and attachable to the gun or riflescopes etc. These can be complete units with an internal reticle or units to be clipped-on/attached/mounted to an existing riflescope or aiming device. For import, exhibition at EnforceTac and re-export of all these devices, an exemption permit from the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) must be applied for, as these are classified as prohibited items. Units to be clipped-on/attached/mounted to an existing riflescope or aiming device remain prohibited although such devices may now be used for hunting purposes in Germany by way of exception. -
3.7. Are thermal cameras that can be attached to firearm scopes so that it is easier to aim in low light conditions prohibited items?Yes. A special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) is needed for such a device.
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3.8. Are, in addition to laser sights, red-dot-sights (e.g. Aimpoint) also prohibited items, so that a special permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) must be applied for?Laser sights do project a point of aim at the target, are therefore prohibited in Germany and for import, exhibition at EnforceTac as well as for re-export an a special permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) is required (BKA exception must be applied for). Red-dot-sights (also with dots in other colours), on the other hand, are no prohibited items, as their dot or reticle is only visible in the device itself.
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3.9. Why are flashlights and lamps to be attached to firearms prohibited items in Germany?As so-called “devices for use with firearms for target or sight illumination purposes” they are prohibited items according the German law regulations.
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3.10. When must „regular“ flashlights and lamps that originally were not designed for being attached to firearms nevertheless be seen as items being prohibited in Germany?
"Regular" flashlights, torches and lamps must also be classified as prohibited items if any kind of mouting device to mount them to firearms is existing. To display the flashlights, torches and lamps separately from corresponding mounts is not enough! If a mount is existing for a flashlight or lamp that shall be displayed then refrain from bringing the mount and refer to illustrations and brochures. The separate mount is a prohibited item already and a special exception permit must be applied for it. -
3.11. Must devices containing as a flashlight/lamp as a laser sight at the same time be seen different to mere flashlights and lamps to be attached to firearms or to mere laser sights?
No. Devices for use with firearms combining as a flashlight/lamp as a laser sight in one device must also be seen as “devices for use with firearms for target or sight illumination purposes” and therefore as being prohibited items in Germany (BKA exception must be applied for). -
3.12. Besides Pump-action shotguns meeting special criteria (see numbers 4 to 7 in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’"), can other kinds of shotguns, for example break-down action shotguns or semi-automatic shotguns, be prohibited items as well so that a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) is needed therefor, too?No. Single-barreled and multi-barreled break-down action shotguns and also semi-automatic shotguns are generally no prohibited items in Germany. - Exception: they can be telescoped, folded, shortened or rapidly dismantled to a greater extent than usual for hunting and sporting purposes, then a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) would be needed therefore, too.
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3.13. Must pump-action shotguns meet all prohibition criteria regarding this kind of guns (- pistol grip instead of a shoulder stock / - no or detachable shoulder stock / - overall length in the shortest way possible of less than 95 cm / 37” / - barrel length of less than 45 cm / 17.7”; see numbers 1 to 4 in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’") so that a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) is needed for these guns being prohibited firearms in Germany?No. If only one of the criteria mentioned applies the pump-action shotgun must be seen as a prohibited firearm in Germany and a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) must be applied for it.
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3.14. What is the maximum shifting distance of telescopic shoulder stocks (overall length in the longest way minus overall length in the shortest way) so that the guns with these stocks must not be seen as prohibited firearms because they can be telescoped, folded or shortened to a greater extent than usual for hunting and sporting purposes?
If the telescopic shoulder stock shortens the overall-length of the firearm just by a maximum of 9.5 cm (3.7”) the gun must not be seen as being able to be telescoped to a greater extent than usual for hunting and sporting purposes. It is therefore not a prohibited item. The overall-length in the longest and shortest way must stay more than 60 cm / 23.6” then so that the firearm is still a long gun and not a handgun that could be prohibited according another prohibition criterion. -
3.15. Does the criterion that firearms that can be telescoped, folded or shortened to a greater extent than usual for hunting and sporting purposes are prohibited also apply to so-called handguns (i.e. revolvers, single-shot pistols, drop-barrel pistols, semi-automatic pistols, overall-length up to 60 cm / 23.6”)?No. Only long guns (usually rifles, shotguns) with an overall-length of more than 60 cm / 23.6” are prohibited firearms if they can be telescoped, folded or shortened to a greater extent than usual for hunting and sporting purposes. Regular long guns (that are not prohibited according other criteria) cannot be prohibited.
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3.16. Which knives, stabbing weapons and batons are prohibited items?Only the stabbing weapons and batons etc. enlisted in numbers 19 to 28 in the “Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’" are prohibited. Therefore a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) has to be applied for them.
There is no need for a BKA exception permit for other knives and batons etc. being not contained in numbers 19 to 28 because these items (that may not be allowed to be carried in public in Germany) are no generally prohibited items. -
3.17. What criteria must switchblade knives meet not be classified as prohibited items?Only switchblade knives with blades shorter than a maximum 8.5 cm (3.3”) and not being sharpened double-sided are no prohibited items. All other switchblade knives are prohibited just as all kinds of gravity knives and other knifes the blades of which are slid out forwards from the handle and fist knives / push knives. For these you need to apply for a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA).
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3.18. What is the difference between a mere baton (not prohibited) and a blackjack (prohibited)?A mere baton is not a prohibited item because it has the same weight as in its back side as in its front sight. Contrary to that a blackjack or cosh is heavier in its front and usually also flexible. A blackjack or cosh, just like brass knuckles, steel rods and nunchakus (see numbers 25 to 30 in the list of items regarding the "Application for Special Permission for the Temporary Import of ‘Prohibited Firearms and Articles’") is a prohibited item in Germany and a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) is needed.
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3.19. Are mere telescopic batons (not flexible!) prohibited items and do you need a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) for them?No. Telescopic batons (being not flexible!) are no prohibited items in Germany and there is no need for a special permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) for them. Being flexible they would be prohibited steel rods and a special exception permit would be needed.
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3.20. What must be observed if airsoft guns shall be imported that do not have an “F-marking” (“F” in a pentagon)?
Airsoft guns must be classified differently depending on the starting energy Eo of their projectiles. Some of them possibly could be classified as mere toys, nevertheless we strongly advise to observe all the regulations regarding the import and export of firearms for all airsoft guns (no matter if they do have an F marking or not) to be on the safe side - see “Important Information on presentation of firearms” as to that!
4. Import / Export
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4.1. Which rules must be observed by exhibitors from non-EU countries and by exhibitors from EU countries regarding the import and re-export of firearms and of other articles that German gun rules apply for?Exhibitors from non-EU countries must go through the regular customs procedures to import and to re-export firearms and items that need a license for in Germany. In addition they need to apply for a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) if their or some of their firearms and articles are prohibited items in Germany so that they can be imported, re-exported and presented at Enforce Tac.
Exhibitors from EU countries must apply for a so-called “transport permission” to the City of Nuremberg to import and to re-export firearms and items that need a license for in Germany (application form to be sent to the Enforce Tac management). In addition they need to apply for a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) if their or some of their firearms and articles are prohibited items in Germany. -
4.2. Is it advisable that a freight forwarding company handles the import and export of articles to be exhibited that need a license for or that are prohibited in Germany?Yes. Definitely! Not to employ a freight forwarder often causes significant problems because some customs offices or officers are not familiar with the specific gun show details. We recommend SCHENKER to be employed as a freight forwarder because SCHENKER is very familiar with all Enforce Tac related things.
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4.3. Can exhibitors from non-EU countries import and re-export guns that shall be presented at Enforce Tac themselves, can they employ DHL or do they need a specific freight forwarding company?Articles from non-EU countries must be cleared for import and export by the customs authorities. We strongly advise against handling the import and re-export procedures without assistance. Sending prohibited articles with DHL is not the best idea either because DHL is not specialized in Enforce Tac related things. We recommend SCHENKER to be employed as a freight forwarder because this company is very specialized.
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4.4. What happens with firearms and articles that are sent to Germany without the relevant paperwork / customs declaration?Such firearms usually are seized by the customs authorities and the customs authorities initiate criminal investigations. The criminal process usually leads to the confiscation of the goods without substitution and to fining the exhibitor. The Enforce Tac management cannot do anything for its customers any more as soon as the authorities initiated the criminal investigation. We strongly advise to clarify the correct import and export measures with an experiences freight forwarder beforehand. We recommend SCHENKER to be employed as a freight forwarder because this company is very specialized.
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4.5. What regulations apply if guns of exhibitors from abroad come from a subsidiary company based in German, i.e. if the guns are sent to Enforce Tac from Germany?As far as guns are delivered from Germany and they are brought back to Germany after Enforce Tac again only the inner-German regulations apply. The rules regarding the import and export according the information at point 3 are only applicable if items are imported from abroad and re-exported to abroad. It is irrelevant as to that if the exhibitor’s company seat is in Germany or not.
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4.6. Must all firearms have an individual serial number?Yes. All firearms must have a permanent individual serial number that must be stated in all import papers and, if applicable, also in the application for a special exception permit of the Federal Criminal Investigation Office (BKA) for prohibited firearm.
5. Gun parts / decorative and salute guns
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5.1. Which gun parts are the so-called „main parts“ of firearms within the meaning of the law so that they are coequal to the firearms as such and what are the rules regarding the import and export of such “main parts”?
The legally "main parts" of a firearm are
1. the barrel
2. the breech:- This is the part directly closing the chamber or the barrel.
- In the case of separable breeches, both the breech head and the breech carrier are essential parts.
3. the cartridge chamber, if this is not already part of the barrel.
4. the housing:
- This is the component that accommodates the barrel, the trigger mechanism and the breech.
- If the housing is composed of an upper and a lower housing part, both parts are "main parts".
- For handguns (total length up to 60 cm/23.6"), the lower part of the housing is called the frame; if it is intended to accommodate the trigger mechanism, it is a "main part", too.
Semi-automatic long guns (total length over 60 cm/23.6") also often have an upper and lower housing part (upper and lower receiver, for example with M16/AR-15 style semi-auto rifles). Both parts, even separate from each other, are also "main parts" within the meaning of German weapons law then.
These "main parts" within the meaning of the law (NOT also stock, grip plates, springs and screws etc.!) are legally equal to the actual firearms, even as separate individual parts. The import and export of such "main parts" for presentation purposes at Enforce Tac is therefore subject to the same regulations as the import and export of the respective complete firearm.
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5.2 What is the legal classification of silencers?Silencers are equal to the essential parts and thus to firearms. They are therefore subject to licensing. With regard to their import, exhibition at Enforce Tac and re-export, they must be treated in the same way as firearms requiring a permit. Attention: Silencers for war weapons according to the Military Weapons Control Act (KrWaffKontrG) are prohibited!
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5.3 Is there nothing to be observed with regard to deactivated former firearms that are now supposedly purely decorative guns?According to the new implementing regulation (EU) 2015/2403, it must be ensured that firearms of any kind are rendered permanently unusable by deactivation. The criteria to be observed in this regard are almost unmanageable. In your own interest, we urgently recommend to refrain from bringing such decorative weapons to Enforce Tac for exhibition purposes, or, if it is absolutely necessary to bring them, to treat them like live firearms with regard to import, presentation and re-export, and to observe the regulations beeing relevant for these. For the presentation of gun attachments at Enforce Tac, such as optics etc., please use so-called Red Guns or Blue Guns or similar items that are not subject to German weapons law.
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5.4 What should be considered regarding original firearms that have been converted to salute weapons?The new criteria to be observed when converting a live firearm into a salute weapon are almost unmanageable. In your own interest, we strongly recommend that you refrain from bringing such salute weapons to EnforceTac for exhibition purposes, or, if it is absolutely necessary to bring them, to treat them like live firearms with regard to import, presentation and re-export and to observe the regulations beeing relevant for these.