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Hessen Plans Statewide Ban on Weapons in Schools

Armin Schwarz aims to unify school safety rules across Hessen with urgent legal measures for the next academic year.

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Overview

  • Hessian schools have recorded nearly 30 incidents involving knives and similar weapons over the past 2½ years, including 15 violent attacks causing injuries in 2024.
  • The ban will cover a wide array of items, from knives and steel rods to soft‐air guns, ammunition, fireworks and dangerous chemicals, with self‐defense sprays exempted.
  • Violators could face fines of up to €10,000 in addition to disciplinary actions such as suspension or expulsion.
  • School principals will have authority to involve police in cases of suspected weapon possession and may grant limited exemptions for school events.
  • An emergency decree is set to take effect at the start of the new school year, with plans to embed the prohibition in Hessen’s school law thereafter.