Legal information
Behaviour, uniforms and the law
The law (BTK § 269/B) says that those person who are using the symbols of autocracy in front of the public commit an offence and can be punished to fine. The symbols of autcracy are: communist symbols as red star, hammer and sickle and nazi signs as the swastika and the SS-runes. If these signs are used front of the public in the context of historical presentation, science, art, or in reportation about the present events they are not an offence!If you are legally participating in a reenactment show you are making a historical presentation and in this way you are allowed to use these symbols.
The historical (pre 1945) uniforms can be worn anytime if it is not an offence against the law above! If you are wearing a historical uniform in the context of a historical presentation, then you are allow to use the „symbols of autocracy” (SS-runes, swastika, red star etc.).
Firearms laws
Blackpowder firearmsIt is legal to purchase a blackpowder gun without a permit, but a gun permit shall be obtained to buy black powder and primers. Since these items are permit-free in neighboring Slovakia, the Hungarian blackpowder competitions are regularly held over the border.
Gas handguns
By the newest law every hungarian citizen (over 18) is allowed to buy and carry (hidden) gas handguns. You have to register your weapon at your local police-department (the registration cost is 10 EUR).
Deactivated firearms The guns which are deactivated are legal. You can trade them or keep at home.
"Reenactor's" firearms The guns which are used for reenactment, or for acting can be legally held if you are a hungarian citizen (over 18) and a registered member of a reenactment association or a film-prop firm. These guns should be stored together in locable metal object at the place of the assiciation or firm. These guns should have a deactivated barrel, in this way you are only able to fire blanks.
Hunting guns
If the applicant meets the medical and legal criteria and passes a hunter's course, he/she gets a permit for a hunting gun. However the police like to restrict the number of guns. It is illegal to hunt with handguns or semi-automatic guns.
Sport firearms
The applicant must have a Sportshooter Class IV or higher qualification. Even in such a case, the police like to deny the permit claiming the applicant should use the guns of the
sport association.
Hunting and sport guns are for hunting and sporting purposes. Even if you have a permit for them, you are not allowed to wear them around as self-defense guns.
Self-defense handguns
"Elite" people like members of the parliament or the administration, heads of ministry divisions, judges, district attorneys, mayors, and military, law enforcement and secret service professional officers have the right to get a permit and keep and wear self-defense handguns. The average Joe and Joanne can get a permit if the applicant can prove that his/her life needs an elevated level of protection due to his/her activity or another reason, and the threat can be repelled by nothing but a firearm, and the applicant meets the prescribed storage criteria.
Cartridge making / reloading (forbidden)
Why should one collect spent casings? Hungarians are so wealthy :)
Compulsory storage checks
The police regularly seek appointments with gun owners, and then they enter the apartments and check wheather weapon and ammunition are kept in separate, lockable, wooden or metal objects (safes, boxes, chests etc).
If you are not a hungarian citizen and you are coming to an reenactment event from abroad be sure that your host gives you a "legal invitation letter" (which contains what kind of weapon you bring in where do you go and what you will be doing with it!).
As always, when you're in a foreign country for a reenactment, listen to the natives and follow their advice. Do not draw unnecessary attention to yourself and follow common sense.
© 2007 by bee • mailto: webmaster(at)ww2reenactment.info