# So what exactly did the German 1938 gun control act say?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 17, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479 "2013-01-17T06:44:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2013, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479/1 "2013-01-17T06:44:49Z")
There is much talk of the Nazis “taking away guns” online. But what did the act in question actually say (in English). I believe it is the 1938 gun control act, but I have not even been able to find its official name online before I end up tied up 21st century politics.
What exactly does the act in question say? and how does it compare to the earlier Wiemar Republic law? (I believe of 1928). Was it a restriction of gun rights relative to the earlier law or loosening?
Again English translation would be appreciated.
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### Author:  [@twhitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twhitt)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2013, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479/2 "2013-01-17T07:19:14Z")
[The master speaks.](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1791/did-hitler-ban-gun-ownership) Edit: I see now that this is by a member of the SDSAB. My mistake.
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### Author:  [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2013, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479/3 "2013-01-17T07:56:04Z")
The law and associated ordinances were published in _Reichsgesetzblatt I,_ 1938, issue 31 of 21 March 1938, pages 265-276.
[Link to the text](http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=dra&datum=1938&page=443&size=45) - it is a scan so no joy with online translation.
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### Author:  [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2013, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479/4 "2013-01-17T08:20:30Z")
Link to original of the 1938 act, with translation (starts at page 64), compared to US 1968 act.
[CommonLawGrandJury.com is for sale | HugeDomains](http://www.commonlawgrandjury.com/second-gun-control_v1.1.pdf) (PDF)
Unable to find original or translation of 1928 act.
Comparison of the 1928 and 1938 laws, by Bernard Harcourt, starts around page 20. This paper is cited multiple times in the Wikipedia article, “Gun Politics in Germany”.
[http://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/files/harcourt\_fordham.pdf](http://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/files/harcourt_fordham.pdf) (PDF)
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun\_politics\_in\_Germany#The\_1938\_German\_Weapons\_Act](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_politics_in_Germany#The_1938_German_Weapons_Act)
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### Author:  [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2013, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479/5 "2013-01-17T12:32:36Z")
The 1928 law was published in: _Reichsgesetzblatt I_, 1928, issue 18 of 20 April 1928, pp. 143-147. [Link to scan](http://alex.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/alex?aid=dra&datum=1928&size=45&page=195).
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### Author:  [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)
#### Post date: [January 17, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-what-exactly-did-the-german-1938-gun-control-act-say/647479/6 "2013-01-17T18:47:08Z")
[Gun Control -: Gateway to Tyranny](http://www.amazon.com/Gun-Control-Gateway-Tyranny-Weapons/dp/0964230410/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358448158&sr=1-1&keywords=gun+control+gateway+to+tyranny)
The Nazi Weapons Law of 1938 compared side-by-side with the U.S. Gun Control Act of 1968.