The Left calls for because of the cases of police violence in the United States for an immediate halt to arms supplies to the Nato partners. Foreign politician Sevim Dagdelen fears that American police officers may use weapons or other equipment from German production against the protesters. “It is intolerable that the Federal government is continuing to authorize the sale of German weapons in the United States, although it is now known that racist violence in criticized U.S. police authorities with weapons from German arms companies are equipped,” she told the German press Agency.
According to a response of the Ministry of economy to a request dagdelen’s, which has been submitted to the dpa, the Federal government has, since 2010, arms exports for EUR 6.2 billion for the United States to be approved. Including rifles and machine guns for 40.5 million euros, as well as grenade weapons for 47.3 million euros. Add to shot gun parts at a value of 29.7 million, as well as ammunition for 265,2 million euros. The Export of firearms is particularly controversial, because of the the world’s the majority of people to be killed.
Two of the three major German manufacturer of firearms, Heckler & Koch, Sig Sauer, and Carl Walther have delivered according to the economy Ministry directly to American police authorities. “The extent to which these firearms among the recipients is the Federal government isn’t known”, – stated in the answer to the Left of the request.
tear gas, handcuffs and ankle cuffs
Since 2010, have been granted in addition, 96 export permits to the value of around 298,000 euros for other goods, which can be used against protesters. To chemicals for the manufacture of tear gas, handcuffs, shackles and electric-shock devices.
it is Unclear whether the weapons and equipment of German production of the armed forces have reached the police. The military is, for years, discarded equipment for free to local police authorities and security forces of the Federal States. So can find armored cars, rifles or night-vision devices, which were once, perhaps, in Iraq or in Afghanistan in use on America’s roads again.
Since the beginning of the programme, around 30 years ago, military goods were transferred in the purchase value of around 7.4 billion US dollars to local security forces, it says on the website of the office of military logistics. In the financial year 2019 there was equipment in the value of around $ 300 million. This includes uniforms, rescue equipment and tools, a very small part of it were weapons and military vehicles. The program has since been disputed. Critics fear a militarization of the police.
