Macheten in the discounter: danger or practical garden tools?

Macheten in the discounter: danger or practical garden tools?

Sometimes it seems as if a wave of violence with knives is rolling through the cities in recent months. The current figures are alarming: in Berlin alone there were almost ten attacks a day in 2022 with 3,412 knife attacks. A trend that is also reflected in other federal states, as reported by the Tagesschau. A particularly critical topic is the availability of knives, as the offer of a discounter in Berlin shows: Macheten and bush knives are sold there for a lot of cheap 9.99 euros, not only in the branch, but also online, although the offer is currently not available.

The macets that come up with lengths of 50 and 56 centimeters are advertised as "ideal for garden, camping and outdoor". But caution is advised here: the articles are not open on the shelves, but must be requested from the staff. A security concept that can really arouse skepticism. The possession of these tools is legal, but they must not be carried in public. According to the discounter, they do not fall under the weapons law, which is why they are also sold to people aged 16 and over, but under control at the cash register.

The problem of knife power

But while the availability of knives and power for gardening and outdoor activities is advertised, the knife power increases alarming. Last year in Germany about 13,000 knife attacks , the crime statistics show that every 20th difficult attack took place with a knife. Young men who are often traveling with knives are particularly affected - up to a third of the male adolescents occasionally carries one with themselves.

The Tagesschau reports of an increase in knife attacks by 10 percent in the event of dangerous bodily harm compared to the previous year. This development has also led to a tightening of the weapons law, which has been in force since October 2024. Among other things, it provides for the introduction of knife -free zones at events and in public transport. This is intended to significantly increase security and control over the handling of knives.

prevention and social challenges

The criminologist Dirk Baier emphasizes that the reasons for the increase are diverse. Among other things, social inequality and rising living costs play a role. This solidifies masculinity orientation among young men who often consider violence as conflict resolution. In this sense, socio -political measures and campaigns for prevention of violence are essential. The ZDF emphasizes that long-term solutions require more resources for the police or an improvement in social work in order to show potential perpetrators clear alternatives.

It seems that it is time not only to tighten laws, but also to tackle the underlying problems in our society. This is the only way to counteract future knife attacks in cities such as Cologne and beyond. The current developments related to knife sales and increasing violence clearly show that there is a need for action here. It remains to be seen how the situation will develop in the coming months.