Police Guidelines

Guidelines for the import, possession, carrying, use and export of guns and knives in connection with the ‘Battle of Als’ reenactment performance under the direction of Museum Sønderjylland, History Centre Dybbøl Banke.

General remarks

Guns may only be used for firing salutes.

The organisers will provide the participating riflemen with black powder.

The import and export, possession, carrying and use of weapons

Original historical weapons

The following guns are not covered by the Danish Weapons and Explosives Act:

  1. Muzzle-loading weapons made before 1870.
  2. Breech-loading weapons made before 1870 and which cannot use self-contained cartridges.

If a weapon is to be used for firing salutes during the event, a firearms certificate is required under the provisions of the Weapons and Explosives Act.

  1. Original muzzle-loading or breech-loading guns which do not use self-contained cartridges, were made before 1870, and for which a Danish firearms certificate has been issued:
    Such weapons may be used for firing salutes during the event in accordance with the certificate.
  2. Original muzzle-loading or breech-loading guns which do not use self-contained cartridges, were made before 1870, and which belong to foreign participants:
    Such weapons may be used for firing salutes during the event, if the Central and West Jutland Police have given permission in accordance with the application procedure below.

Original cannons made before 1870

An original (saluting) cannon is only covered by S.1 of the Executive Order on Weapons and Ammunition, etc., if it is able to fire live ammunition.

If the cannon can only fire blanks, it will be regarded as a blank-firing weapon, for which a certificate is required (see below).

Original breech-loading small arms that fire self-contained cartridges

  1. Original breech-loading small arms for which a Danish firearms certificate has been issued:
    Such weapons may be kept, carried and used for firing salutes during the event in accordance with the certificate.
  2. Original breech-loading small arms belonging to participants from abroad:
    Such weapons may be imported and exported, and may be kept, carried and used for firing salutes during the event, if the Central and West Jutland Police have given permission in accordance with the application procedure below.

Replicas of small arms

  1. Replicas of original small arms for which a Danish firearms certificate has been issued.
    Such weapons may be kept, carried and used for firing salutes during the event in accordance with the certificate.
  2. Replicas of original small arms belonging to participants from abroad:
    Such weapons may be imported and exported, and may be kept, carried and used for firing salutes during the event, if the Central and West Jutland Police have given permission in accordance with the application procedure below.

A certificate is required even though the firearm can only fire blanks (blank-firing weapon)

Replicas of original (saluting) cannons for which a Danish firearms certificate has been issued

Such weapons may be kept and used for firing salutes during the event in accordance with the certificate.

Replicas of original (saluting) cannons from abroad:

Authorisation from the Ministry of Justice:

Authorisation from the Ministry of Justice is required if the cannon is breech-loading with a chamber depth of more than 50 mm, even though the cannon can only be used for firing blanks.

Applications for import and export, and for the possession and use of such cannons must be addressed to:

Justitsministeriet
Sikkerheds- og Forebyggelseskontoret
Slotsholmsgade 10
1216 København K
Danmark

Authorisation from Central and West Jutland Police  (‘blank-firing weapon’):

If the cannon is:

  • Muzzle-loading and can only be used to fire blanks, or
  • Breech-loading with a chamber depth of less than 50 mm,

Such cannons may be imported and exported, and may be kept and used for firing salutes during the event, if the Central and West Jutland Police have given permission in accordance with the application procedure below.

Blade weapons

  1. With a blade length of less than 12 cm, both in Denmark and abroad:
    Daggers, etc., may be imported, exported, worn and used as part of a costume or uniform typical of the period.
  2. With a blade length of more than 12 cm, from Denmark:
    Bayonets, sabres and the like may be kept, worn and used if the participant is authorised to do so (authorisation to carry blade weapons).
  3. With a blade length of more than 12 cm, from abroad:
    Bayonets, sabres and the like may be imported and exported, and may be kept and used for firing salutes during the event, if the Central and West Jutland Police have given permission in accordance with the application procedure below.

Application procedure

To the extent that authorisation is required (cf. above) that does not need to be issued by the Ministry of Justice, applications for authorisation must be sent to:

Midt- og Vestjyllands Politi
Administrativ Center Vest
Att.: Våbenkontoret
Brogårdsvej 1
7500 Holstebro

Or:

Mvjyl-vaaben@politi.dk

Participating associations are expected to send a collective application on behalf of all participating members.

The application must be written in Danish, English or German and shall for each participant contain information about:

  • Name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Nationality
  • Passport number or other valid travel document
  • Home address
  • Address of residence in Denmark
  • Telephone number on which the applicant can be reached at home.
  • Membership (if applicable) of an association concerned with historical activities, and if so the name of this association.
  • (European) Firearms Pass (if applicable), or information as to whether permission is being sought for the import and export of the weapon.
  • (For firearms and blank-firing weapons), the nature of the weapon (musket, pistol, saluting cannon, etc.), the manufacturer, model, calibre and serial number.
  • (For blade weapons), the nature of the weapon (dagger, sabre, rapier, bayonet, etc.) and the blade length.

NB. It is a requirement that each participant, along with the application, must send a valid Police Clearance Certificate from their home country, and similarly append or attach any weapon certificate they may possess from their home country.

The applicant shall with his/her signature give permission to the Central and West Jutland Police to gather information about the personal situation of the applicant, including any criminal proceedings in Denmark or in their home country.

Firing salutes during the event

Central and West Jutland Police have decided to give History Centre Dybbøl Banke permission to fire salutes.

Consequences

This means that History Centre Dybbøl Banke has been given police permission to fire salutes at the following address/locality: Dybbøl Banke 16, 6400 Sønderborg,  in connection with ‘The Battle of Als’.

Authorisation has been given under the following conditions:

  • that the stated firing times be scrupulously observed;
  • that the firing of salutes is only carried out by yourself, or by others in possession of a firearms certificate for the cannons, and that you as the applicant at all times are able to provide documentary proof that you have received instruction enabling you to operate the weapon in a completely responsible manner;
  • that those who fire the salutes shall at all times be able to show a valid firearms certificate;
  • that salutes are only fired using black powder; (??)
  • that until use the black powder is safely stored and inaccessible to unauthorised persons in accordance with the provisions to this effect in the Executive Order on Weapons and Ammunition, etc.;
  • that the police at any time on due proof of their identity but without a court order have access to the powder store;
  • that in connection with the firing of salutes the area is effectively roped off, such that spectators are kept at least 25 metres away to the sides and rear, and fifty metres away in front of the cannon;
  • that spectators immediately before the cannon is fired are warned that the noise of the explosion can be violent;
  • that the gun crew has ensured that they will quickly be able to extinguish any small fires that may be caused by the firing of the salute;
  • that the plot owner has given permission to use the land for this event;
  • that an insurance of DKK 2 million for material damage and DKK 10 million for damage to persons be taken out to cover any damage that may be caused by the firing of the salute;
  • that the authorisation can be withdrawn at any time should the provisions of the Executive Order on Weapons and Ammunition, etc. be contravened, or if the situation for any other reason makes such withdrawal necessary;
  • that black powder is only issued to persons who legally may keep, carry and use the weapon for which the powder is to be used, cf. the above guidelines;
  • that steps are taken to ensure that each person firing a salute returns any excess black powder at the end of the firing session.
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