Austrian Government Cracks Down on Gun Laws After School Shooting in Graz
Austria raises legal gun purchasing age - Austria raises minimum age for gun purchasers
In the aftermath of the horrific shooting at a Graz school that left 10 dead, Austria is tightening its gun laws. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) has announced several measure to enhance gun safety regulations.
Higher Minimum Age for Deadly Weapons
The purchasing age for particularly dangerous weapons will be raised from 21 to 25 years old. This move is aimed at limiting access to deadly weapons for those considered more volatile.
Enhanced Psychological Assessments
Psychological evaluations for gun buyers will become more rigorous. There are plans to enable data exchange between the federal army and weapons authorities, to help identify individuals who may pose a threat. This would have allowed authorities to be aware of the shooter's dismissed psychological instability during conscription.
Extended Waiting Period
The cooling-off period for all weapon purchases will be extended from three working days to four weeks. This extended period allows for additional time to evaluate the purchaser's mental state and overall suitability to own a weapon.
Tightened Access Requirements
The access requirements for purchasing certain categories of weapons will also be tightened. The Interior Ministry will spearhead these enhancements.
Boost in School Psychologists and Security Measures
To prevent such incidents, the number of school psychologists will be doubled over the next three years. "School psychology must no longer be the exception, but the rule," said Chancellor Stocker. Access to schools will also be regulated more closely.
Increased police presence at schools will be implemented until the end of the school year. A compensation fund of 20 million euros will support relatives and the school community impacted by the tragedy.
The Aftermath of the School Shooting
A 21-year-old Austrian, who had previously attended the school, carried out the shooting on June 10, 2025. Nine students and a teacher were killed in the incident, with the perpetrator subsequently taking his own life. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, but investigations revealed that he was a fervent admirer of mass shooters.
- Graz
- School Shooting
- Austria
- Christian Stocker
- Minimum age
- ÖVP
- Federal army
The tragic school shooting in Graz, Austria, has brought about a rise in gun control reforms. Austria’s relatively permissive gun laws have led the countries' government to review and strengthen its gun regulations. Following the shooting, gunman, who passed the required psychological assessments, used deadly weapons. The aftermath has resulted in higher minimum age for permits, stricter psychological screenings, longer waiting periods, and improved inter-agency data sharing.
[1] "School shooting in Austria leaves 10 dead" (CNN, 2025)[2] "Austria tightens gun laws after school shooting" (Al Jazeera, 2025)[3] "How Austria is responding to the school shooting" (BBC, 2025)[4] "Graz Shooting Prompts Austrian Gun Law Reforms" (The Guardian, 2025)
- Apart from the aforementioned measures, the Austrian government is also considering implementing vocational training programs for individuals who show signs of emotional instability, as a means to divert them from potential dangerous paths.
- In the realm of policy-and-legislation, the government is proposing the establishment of a national task force to investigate the root causes of school violence and assemble best practices for community safety. This so-called 'Community Safety Network' will focus on identifying and addressing the underlying issues that lead to gun violence, not just in schools but also in the general-news and crime-and-justice sectors.
