Disarming with Incentives: A Novel Approach by German Police Union

🤡 The German Police Union suggests that owners of “dangerous knives” receive a free year of Netflix if they turn them in

August 8, 2024 Germany has seen a sharp increase in the number of knife attacks resulting in injuries over the past year, with 8,951 incidents nationwide. Just a week ago, Germany was shaken by the case of 17-year-old Khalil H., a Syrian who stabbed three men in Stuttgart, according to Bild.

The German Police Union (GdP) is now seeking solutions.

“Prohibited and dangerous knives need to be quickly removed from private ownership to improve public safety,” said Jochen Kopelke, federal chairman of the GdP, on Tuesday. He believes that incentives should be created to encourage potential violent offenders to voluntarily surrender their knives to authorities.

Therefore, he is calling for a weapons amnesty. In simpler terms, owners would remain unpunished – even if the weapons are prohibited. Kopelke says Federal Justice Minister Marco Buschmann (47, FDP) is responsible for this.

“For this measure to be effective, the federal government must create serious incentives for those turning in weapons,” Kopelke explains.

“Specifically, this could mean a year of Netflix for turning in a prohibited butterfly knife.”

Kopelke recalled a debate in Germany in 2009. At that time, there was talk of a “scrappage bonus” for illegal firearms. However, this was never implemented. Now, a similar regulation could be introduced for knives, he said.

The union leader, however, believes that further measures are also necessary.

Translated and edited by Evan Right