On March 12, 2024, Hans Teeuwen posted a satirical video mocking Femke Halsema, the mayor of Amsterdam. In the video, an object, vaguely appearing to be a pistol, was on a table next to Teeuwen. Within three hours, six policemen appeared at Teeuwen’s door.
Here is a link to the YouTube video of the police arrival and the original video skit. The skit mocks Mayor Halsema. The inclusion of the air pistol was likely to bring attention to how Halsema, her husband, and her son were treated in an incident involving a pistol owned by her husband and criminally misused by the son.
Teeuwne let the police in. They seized the object. AmmoLand noted the object was probably a Webley air pistol. This supposition was later confirmed.
A commenter on AmmoLand recently asked: what happened to the case?
The original incident received considerable attention and outrage. The resolution of the incident did not receive as much attention. On March 15, 2024, Hans Teeuwen was informed he could pick up the air pistol. No charges were brought against him.
An English-language version of an article about the incident was found. From world-today-journal.com:
Amsterdam – Hans Teeuwen will receive the gun back on Friday that the police took during a raid on his house on Tuesday. The comedian announced this on Wednesday. A group of six officers arrived at Teeuwen’s home after he posted a video online showing the air pistol.
“I just got a call and I can come by on Friday and I will get the weapon back,” said the artist. According to Teeuwen, there are no charges against him: “As far as I am concerned, the matter is closed. Although I’m considering turning it into a carnival hit, “I got my air rifle back.” That should be a cracker.”
The police said on Wednesday that the suspicion against Teeuwen has been withdrawn and that he will not be prosecuted. The police do not want to comment now on the question of what kind of weapon it was. First, Teeuwen receives an explanation of what is going on.
Ridicule is a potent political weapon. Femke Halsema faced ridicule for the heavy-handed way the police raided Hans Teeuwen’s home over what was a legally owned air gun. Air guns can be purchased without any special license in Dutch shops.
Much international news is missed because of language barriers. While the incident occurred over nine months ago, AmmoLand readers deserve to know how it was resolved.
About Dean Weingarten:
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of Constitutional Carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
Politicians love to misuse the police power of the state to silence opposition. That is the real issue at hand here. Silencing opposition. The recent Biden regime gave the American People a master class in the misuse of the police power of the state to silence and intimidate opposition. Many have now been pardoned or had sentences commuted but the lesson remains a painful reminder. The left is not above using intimidation to defend the indefensible.
At least the Amsterdam Police used the “velvet glove of tyranny” and politely knock and were invited in. Unlike the ATF, which loves predawn raids, duct tapes security cameras, knocks and immediately breaks open doors, then shoots up homeowners. Everybody, including the police and suspect were not physically harmed. Even in a country that has no 2nd Amendment Rights. We in America do, have 2nd Amendment Rights until the ATF or IRS decide we don’t.
As a kid, my mom carried a little .25 auto for protection as she carried cash from my dad’s hay hauling business in ye ole kalifornia. Dad never cared for guns himself, and could’nt understand my interest, but okayed me going to a hunter safety course for my getting my .22. Fast forward to today and I’ve gathered a collection designed for varmint protection, (both two legged and four legged), building some nice shooting AR’s, and living in a state that has no issues with any of my choices
Even as a child, i never understood the irrational fear of guns. Just like a truck, a knife or a rope, it’s a tool to be used or misused.
I saw the headline and thought “Dean answers the commenters?!” Thanks!!
There are air pistols that look exactly like real pistols but that’s not one of them, the moment the police looked at it they should have instantly recognized it as an air pistol, give their apologies and left unceremoniously. They sent as many police because they were going to arrest the comedian but when it turned out it was only an air pistol it threw them off their plan and with no bureaucrat to tell them what to do they just decided to take the pistol and leave before they get humiliated any more.
Thanks for update, Dean. I’m glad it was quickly resolved and in favor of Teeuwen.