Leipzig (dpa / sn) – The Leipzig member of the state parliament Juliane Nagel (left) has demanded the abolition of the weapons ban zone around Eisenbahnstraße in her hometown. “It has no effect in the sense of its inventors, leads to stigmatization of the population and is rejected by the majority of residents and the city council,” argued the politician on Wednesday, describing the regulation as “purely symbolic politics”.
“In my opinion, what is needed instead of weapon ban zones, controlled areas and “dangerous places” defined by the police is normal municipal and state political action to make the districts in question social, livable and safe, to stop rising rents and to give young people educational opportunities and income prospects of everyone living there. No more and no less,” explained Nagel.
The parliamentarian wanted to find out in a small question in the state parliament when the ordinance on the weapons ban zone will be lifted. Interior Minister Armin Schuster (CDU) referred to an action plan in his reply. “Among other things, this provides for the reestablishment of a police station on Eisenbahnstrasse. The repeal of the Weapons Prohibition Zone Ordinance should be linked to its opening. Then the signs will also be removed,” he emphasized. A time was not mentioned.
Eisenbahnstraße is a crime hotspot in Leipzig. The first and so far only weapon ban zone in Saxony was set up there in November 2018. Certain weapons may not be carried in the area, which is around 70 football pitches in size, and the police are allowed to carry out checks regardless of suspicion.
