The German government has agreed to tighten gun laws and ban games such as paintball and laser tag because lawmakers say they “simulate killing” that could spark tragedies such as the Winnenden school massacre.
The family of Tim Kretschmer, who shot dead 15 people in and around his school in Winnenden in March before killing himself, has moved away amid hostility in the community.
Following a deadly school shooting last month, the interior ministers of Germany’s 16 states are planning to offer amnesty to anyone who turns in an illegal weapon, the news magazine <i>Der Spiegel</i> reported Saturday.
A 60-year-old man shot and killed his sister-in-law and injured two others before killing himself at around 10:15 am on Tuesday morning at a district court in Landshut, Bavaria.
Normal lessons resumed on Monday for pupils at a school in Germany where a teenager massacred nine students and three teachers earlier this month, the school said.
Speaking at the memorial church service in Winnenden, German President Horst Köhler spoke out against ultra-violent computer games and films, calling for the political world and society in general to reject them.
As Winnenden gathered on Saturday to mourn the 15 people shot dead by Tim Kretschmer earlier this month, the families of five schoolgirl victims called for laws to keep children away from guns, violent video games to be banned and reporting of such massacres to be restricted.
As the state and federal German officials remembered the victims of the Winnenden school massacre on Wednesday, a hostage held by the teen killer for two hours revealed details of his terrifying experience to newsmagazine <i>Stern</i>.
One week after the deadly school massacre in Winnenden, a poll released on Wednesday shows an overwhelming majority of Germans support stricter gun control.
The family of a 17-year-old who shot dead 15 people in southwestern Germany last week before turning the gun on himself apologised to his victims and their families in a letter published on Tuesday.
<b>Tragic incidents such as the recent school shooting in Winnenden cannot be prevented simply by banning violent video games, argues Olaf Wolters from Germany’s BIU Association of Interactive Entertainment Software.</b>
After the first victim of the Winnenden school massacre was buried on Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel suggested surprise visits to gun owners to see if they are storing their weapons properly.
As Winnenden prepares to bury the 15 people shot dead by Tim Kretschmer on Wednesday, further details have emerged about possible influences which led to the 17-year-old committing mass murder.
German authorities said on Friday they would need another two days to work out whether an internet threat from the teenager who went on a deadly rampage at his old school this week was a hoax.
<b>The dead gunman from Winnenden, Tim Kretschmer, had shot other teenagers before with his collection of air guns, alienating those who tried to befriend him, according to German media reports.</b>
