Demonstrative and violent hatred of the state and its representatives is one of the greatest threats to democracy. Local politicians are often the targets of such symbolic offences. This study analyzes the legal and social challenges of effectively protecting these elected officials. In this context, the Criminal Code – which has significantly been reformed by the Act to Combat Right-Wing Extremism and Hate Crime – and the Constitution as well as aspects of the Federal Registration Act and Weapons Act (to uphold the ultima ratio principle) and extra-legal approaches are investigated. From an empirical perspective, echo chamber and filter bubble effects in social media – with a focus on anti-state delegitimisation – are examined.