Distress signal pistol

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A distress signal pistol is a signal pistol that is used on sports and merchant ships to fire pyrotechnic signal ammunition.

Firing a flare pistol.

Distress signal pistol in Germany

A signal gun

In Germany, only signal pistols with caliber 4 are used as distress signal pistols . Caliber 4 means that the diameter of the barrel is as large as the diameter of one of 4 lead bullets, which together would weigh 1 pound (approx. 454 grams) (26.77 mm).

Acquisition and ownership requirements

In order to be able to buy and own a distress signal pistol, one must hold a gun ownership card . Requirements for receiving a gun ownership card with the pre-entry for a distress signal pistol caliber 4 are:

reliability

According to Section 5 of the Weapons Act, the applicant must be sufficiently reliable to own a weapon. As not reliable within the meaning of this provision, z. B. Persons who have been sentenced to a fine of at least 60 daily rates or twice a lesser penalty for an intentional crime of any kind in the past five years. A penalty order is equivalent to a conviction in the context of a public main hearing. Prior punishment for multiple offenses related to weapons and / or hunting law or an anti-constitutional attitude generally qualify the applicant as unreliable in terms of weapons law. For this purpose, the responsible weapons authority will request a current extract from the Central Public Prosecutor's Procedure Register (ZStV) and the local police station and the community of residence will be asked for a statement.

Expertise

A certificate of competence for distress signals issued by the Schleswig-Holstein Sailing Association

According to Section 7 of the Weapons Act, the applicant must be knowledgeable. He can prove his expertise with the certificate of expertise for distress signals .

desire

According to Section 8 of the Weapons Act, the applicant must have a justifiable need. In general, a need exists when someone is the owner of a sea-going pleasure craft and is authorized to operate it. Proof of ownership and driving authorization must be provided (e.g. with a sports boat license for the lake and the flag certificate ).

storage

On land or in the winter camp must distress flare gun in a certified gun cabinet separated the B level of the ammunition or together with the ammunition in a Wertschutzschrank be stored level 0th The distress signal pistol and ammunition must be stored in a hamburger box on board .

Carrying the weapon

If the owner of the distress signal pistol has a gun ownership card, he may only use the gun on his pacified property. The owner's apartment and boat count as pacified property. For guiding the weapon outside the pacified possessions one would gun license required.

Distress signal pistols when crossing the border

Authorized owners of a distress signal pistol and thus also holders of a gun ownership card can enter Germany with their distress signal pistol as they wish, as under German law they are permitted to exercise actual violence using the distress signal pistol.

If a German authorized owner of a distress signal pistol crosses the border of another country, he must comply with the regulations in force there. There are four options:

  • There are no legal restrictions on distress signal pistols in the target country:
    • The weapon can be brought in or taken out at will.
  • In the target country there are legal restrictions on the possession of distress signal pistols and in the target country the German authorization (weapon possession card) is recognized:
    • The owner can import or export the weapon anywhere in the country. National restrictions may apply, such as B. the requirement that the distress signal pistol must remain on board. This is e.g. B. the case in Denmark.
  • There are legal restrictions on the possession of distress signal pistols in the target country and the German gun ownership card is not recognized as an authorization in the target country:
    • With the help of the European Firearms Passport abroad, the holder can prove that he is authorized to exercise power over the weapon in his home country. If the target country recognizes the authorization in the form of the European firearms pass, the owner can import or export the weapon as desired.
  • In the destination country there are legal restrictions on the possession of distress signal pistols and the German authorization of the weapon owner in the form of the weapon possession card and in the form of the European firearms pass is not recognized:
    • Importing the weapon would be illegal. The skipper must use the first opportunity to declare the weapon (declaration of firearms) when he reaches the territorial waters, but at the latest when he reaches the coast. Depending on the legal situation, the weapon will then be temporarily confiscated by the authorities, sealed on board or left on board so that the ship can remain in port.

Advantages and disadvantages of a distress signal pistol

A distress signal pistol has a number of advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages:

  • A distress signal pistol can be reloaded, the ammunition takes up less space than disposable launchers.
  • A distress signal pistol can be loaded with "pop-lightning ammunition".

Disadvantage:

  • A distress signal pistol is subject to gun law in many countries and there are very strict regulations for purchase, storage and transport.
  • Reloading a distress signal pistol can be very difficult in rough seas.
  • If a distress signal pistol falls overboard, it is lost; unlike rockets from single-use guns, ammunition alone can no longer be fired.
  • A distress signal pistol can corrode and thus become unusable under certain circumstances.
  • The ammunition of a distress signal pistol is sometimes less luminous than that of missiles from one-way launchers.
  • A distress signal pistol can be misused as a firearm.
  • The owner is liable to prosecution if the weapon is violated (also unintentionally) when handling the weapon.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Catalog of questions for proof of competence for distress signals
  2. ↑ § 5 WaffG § 5
  3. ↑ Signal weapons ( Memento of the original from December 16, 2011 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , Leaflet of the Hamburg water police @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.hamburg.de