Raising the Minimum Age for Purchasing Firearms in Austria - Austria raises minimum age for purchasing firearms
Firing Back with Stricter Gun Laws: Austria's Response to the Graz Shooting
Let's dive in!
In the wake of the horrific shooting incident in Graz, Austria has vowed to toughen its gun regulations. After the bloodshed that claimed the lives of ten innocent souls, Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) has announced several modifications.
First and foremost, the minimum age for procuring particularly hazardous weapons will be raised from 21 to 25 years. According to Stocker, this change aims to curb the ease with which younger adults can obtain firearms.
Furthermore, the so-called "cooling-off period" between the purchase of the first weapon and its delivery will be extended from three days to four weeks. This measure is expected to provide additional time for thorough background checks and potential reconsideration.
The psychological evaluations for potential gun buyers will be subjected to increased scrutiny, too. In the future, data exchange between the federal army and weapons authorities will reportedly be possible, allowing for improved detection of warning signs. Sadly, it's worth noting that the shooter had previously been deemeds psychologically unstable during his conscription, yet this information never reached the authorities.
Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPO) boldly asserted that those who present a danger to society should not be allowed to wield weapons. Despite this, the possibility of acquiring certain categories of weapons at the age of 18 remains unchanged for now. However, access requirements for these weapons will be beefed up.
As for hunters, no alterations are planned.
To minimize the occurrence of similar incidents in the future, the number of school psychologists will be doubled within the next three years. Stocker stressed, "School psychology should no longer be the exception but the rule." Moreover, access to schools will be more stringently regulated.
Additionally, the police presence at schools will be increased until the end of the school year. The chairwoman of the liberal Neos and Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger, pointed out that a compensation fund of 20 million euros will be established to aid the victims' families and the school.
A 21-year-old Austrian had orchestrated a rampage at his former school in Graz on June 10, fatally shooting nine students and a teacher. After the devastating ordeal, the perpetrator took his own life. At present, the motive behind the attack remains shrouded in mystery, though investigations have revealed that the culprit held a deep admiration for mass shooters.
Keep Graz, shooting, Austria, minimum age, Christian Stocker, gun laws, ÖVP, federal army, and state of mental health in mind!
In addition to stricter gun laws, Austria's community policy will focus on increasing the number of school psychologists and improving mental health screenings for potential gun buyers.
Furthermore, policy-and-legislation on gun ownership will include modifications such as extended background checks, strengthened psychological evaluations, and the exchange of relevant information between the federal army and weapons authorities to ensure improved detection of warning signs.
