The number of extremists with weapons permits in Germany is increasing despite the recent tightening of the legislation, by the end of 2025 more than 1,600 people had such permits (the year before there were 1,500), according to an investigation by the media company NDR. More than 1,300 of them belonged to the far-right environment and the so-called "Reichsburger" movement - these are supporters of conspiracy theories that do not recognize the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and strive to restore the German Empire of 1871. There are at least 3,000 weapons in the hands of extremists, but the real figure should be higher, as only 11 of the 16 federal states provided data, NDR notes. The largest number of firearms was registered in Baden-Württemberg (630), Saxony (449) and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (440). German authorities are trying to confiscate weapons from extremists, but face legal difficulties: owners often challenge departmental decisions in the courts and seek to overturn them. The German Ministry of the Interior calls the implementation of the law a long-term process and assigns the responsibility for applying the new rules to the federal states. At the same time, the increase in the number of extremists with gun permits can be explained by a general increase in the number of identified extremists.

The number of extremists with weapons permits in Germany is increasing despite the recent tightening of the legislation, by the end of 2025 more than 1,600 people had such permits (the year before there were 1,500), according to an investigation by the media company NDR. More than 1,300 of them belonged to the far-right environment and the so-called "Reichsburger" movement - these are supporters of conspiracy theories that do not recognize the legitimacy of the Federal Republic of Germany and strive to restore the German Empire of 1871. There are at least 3,000 weapons in the hands of extremists, but the real figure should be higher, as only 11 of the 16 federal states provided data, NDR notes. The largest number of firearms was registered in Baden-Württemberg (630), Saxony (449) and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (440). German authorities are trying to confiscate weapons from extremists, but face legal difficulties: owners often challenge departmental decisions in the courts and seek to overturn them. The German Ministry of the Interior calls the implementation of the law a long-term process and assigns the responsibility for applying the new rules to the federal states. At the same time, the increase in the number of extremists with gun permits can be explained by a general increase in the number of identified extremists.