Crossbows are legal to own and sell for adults. They are allowed to be shot at certified locations (i.e. shooting ranges) but not necessarily on your own property. You need a license for shooting them on your own property if the energy of the projectile exceeds 7.5 Joules. In comparison, a 9mm pistol shoots projectiles with 300-500 Joules.
Basically (for crossbows):
0 - 0.08 Joules: toy, freely available
0.08 - 0.5 Joules: toy, only available for children over 14
0.5 - 7.5 Joules: weapon, license free for adults, shooting on your own property is allowed
>7.5 Joules: weapon, shooting on your own property is only permitted with a license
For comparison: a 9mm pistol shoots with 300-500 Joules.
Why would you want a crossbow though? Keep in mind that you are not allowed to use weapons for self-defense, even if you don’t need a license for them. Furthermore, I’m not sure whether you are allowed to publicly carry the crossbow at all.
Very interesting info, thanks. I just mentioned them because they’re fun to shoot and wondered if they were illegal. I know you have your own problems with AFD but the situation here is a bit more dire.
In my country (Germany)
Crossbows are legal to own and sell for adults. They are allowed to be shot at certified locations (i.e. shooting ranges) but not necessarily on your own property. You need a license for shooting them on your own property if the energy of the projectile exceeds 7.5 Joules. In comparison, a 9mm pistol shoots projectiles with 300-500 Joules.
Basically (for crossbows):
For comparison: a 9mm pistol shoots with 300-500 Joules.
Why would you want a crossbow though? Keep in mind that you are not allowed to use weapons for self-defense, even if you don’t need a license for them. Furthermore, I’m not sure whether you are allowed to publicly carry the crossbow at all.
Very interesting info, thanks. I just mentioned them because they’re fun to shoot and wondered if they were illegal. I know you have your own problems with AFD but the situation here is a bit more dire.