Austria intensifies firearm regulations following shooting incident
In the wake of the heartrending school shooting in Graz, the Austrian government is geared up to overhaul gun laws. Setting their sights on a suite of reforms, such as tightening age restrictions for gun purchases, is firmly on the table, as stated by Chancellor Christian Kern (ÖVP) in a radio interview on ORF. Prioritizing enhanced psychological tests for gun license applicants is also high on the agenda. The government aims to hammer out a comprehensive plan within the week.
The tragedy unfolded on a Tuesday when a 21-year-old Austrian fired upon his former school with a handgun and a shortened shotgun, leaving nine students and a teacher dead before taking his own life. Remarkably, both weapons were in the legal ownership of the shooter.
In Austria, the path to gun ownership is relatively straightforward, with few obstacles to acquiring a shotgun, while a gun license is a prerequisite for a handgun, which the shooter also obtained following a successful psychological test. It emerged subsequently that he had been deemed unfit for military service, owing to psychological instability in 2021.
A more detailed look at the proposed changes includes stricter eligibility rules, such as raising age limits and tightening weapon classifications. Plans also involve enhancing background checks, particularly for younger applicants, to ensure better screening. Additionally, communication and data exchange between authorities will be improved to better identify high-risk individuals. Authorities are also being urged to scrutinize private sales and digital weapon marketplaces to fill potential gaps in the legal framework [2][4].
A focus on enhancing psychological support and expertise within schools is another proposal, aimed at identifying troubled students early on [2]. There is also ongoing debate about the efficacy of the psychological tests required for gun license applicants, given that the shooter, despite his introverted nature and proclivity for online shooting games, had passed his test [5]. The debate has also sparked questions about the adequacy of mental health care available to young people and the sufficiency of existing interventions to prevent such incidents [5].
The following table summarizes the main proposed measures:
| Measure | Details/Plans ||--------------------|-------------------------------------|| Stricter eligibility rules | Higher age limits, stricter weapon categories || Improved background checks | Focus on younger applicants || Enhanced authority coordination | Better data sharing and risk identification || Review of private sales | Addressing loopholes in private and online sales || Psychological expertise in schools | More mental health support and early intervention || Scrutiny of psychological evaluations | Questioning the effectiveness of current tests for firearm licenses |
These proposals are slated to be discussed and agreed upon by the Austrian cabinet as part of its official response to the tragedy [2][4][5].
In light of the recent school shooting in Graz, a focus on policy-and-legislation reforms in Austria's politics is intense, particularly regarding gun laws and crime-and-justice. Proposed changes include stricter eligibility rules, improved background checks, enhanced authority coordination, and a emphasis on psychological support in schools as part of general-news discussions following the tragedy.
