Tragedy in Graz: Legal Weapons Used in Mass Shooting at School
Gunfire erupts at Graz school, claiming numerous lives through the use of legally owned firearms - Chaotic Scene as Deadly Use of Legal Firearms Erupts Among School Crowd
Written by: AnneJohnsonRead Time: Approx. 4 Minutes
In the heart of Graz, a 21-year-old ex-student took the lives of ten individuals in a chilling shooting spree. According to official statements, the perpetrator legally owned both a long and short weapon. The individuals who allowed him access to these deadly tools even requested a psychological evaluation. Elke Kahr (KPO), the city's Mayor, glanced over the situation, stating, "I personally don't have a problem with law-abiding citizens possessing firearms, neither in the past nor now."
In comparison to the U.S., obtaining a weapon permit in Germany, including a psychological evaluation for first-time, large-caliber applicants, is mandatory. However, the mass shooting in Austria highlights that even these evaluations can't guarantee safety when individuals present a hidden threat:
- In Prague, 2023, a 24-year-old student from Charles University killed 13 people with his collection of eight legally owned guns. Prior to this horrific crime, he had murdered his father, a pedestrian, and an infant in a stroller.
- In the Russian city of Kazan, a 19-year-old, who had dropped out of school, used a semi-automatic rifle he legally possessed to murder seven students and two teachers. The authorities deemed him suitable after reviewing a psychological evaluation.
- Tracing back to 2009, a 17-year-old student in Winnenden took his father's legally owned pistol and shot 15 people, including nine students and three teachers. He himself was a sports shooter and had access to the weapon due to a lapse in storage.
- In the year 2002, a 19-year-old sports shooter from Erfurt killed 16 people at his former high school, including 12 teachers, two students, a secretary, and a police officer. He legally owned both a pistol and a pump-action shotgun.
Violent Attack at an Elementary School
- On March 13, 1996, a 43-year-old man stormed into an elementary school in Scotland. He entered the gymnasium, where first-graders were in PE, shooting and killing 16 children and a teacher, while ten others were injured. Due to this tragedy, almost all handguns in private ownership were banned in the UK, and firearm access was significantly restricted.
- The bloody shooting spree in Eppstein (Hesse) in 1983 is often forgotten. On June 3, a 34-year-old man entered a school with two semi-automatic pistols, severely injuring a teacher. Three children died, while 13 others were injured, four severely. The principal, who rushed to the scene, and an unarmed policeman who tried to intervene were also killed. A total of five people died, and 14 were injured in this incident, considered one of the worst school shootings in Germany since 1945. The perpetrator legally possessed his weapons as a security guard and sports shooter.
The number of people killed by legal firearms in Germany isn't tracked, raising concerns about the safety of citizens. Though the Federal Criminal Office meticulously records every pickpocketing incident, they neglect recording the number of fatalities caused by legal weapons. Citizens' initiatives like "No Murder Weapons as Sports Weapons!”, founded by journalist Roman Grafe in 2009 after the incident in Winnenden, have taken it upon themselves to document these tragedies.
Grafe has counted over 300 fatalities due to weapons owned by sports shooters since 1990. Compared to the actions of the Red Army Faction (RAF), which caused 34 deaths, this number demonstrates the relatively lenient gun laws in Germany. Grafe advocates for a ban on potentially deadly weapons used in sports shooting, regardless of their caliber, and calls for stricter regulations on legal firearm ownership. "Every time these tragic events happen, shock wears off quickly," Grafe explained. "It was the same after the last legal firearms massacres in Austria: in Linz 1995 (five dead), Mauterndorf 1997 (six dead), 1999 Straßwalchen (four dead), 2016 Schildberg (five dead), 2019 Kitzbühel (five dead). And it will likely be the same this time."
- Massacre
- Graz
- Firearm
- Austria
The increased safety of students and teachers relies on stronger gun control laws worldwide, while also addressing underlying mental health issues. Countries with strict regulations, like many in Europe, have fewer school shootings than those with lenient gun laws, like the U.S. The recent tragedy in Graz emphasizes the crucial need for comprehensive safety measures that protect schools from these devastating events.
- The Commission, in light of the recent mass shooting in Graz, may reconsider the application of new rules for firearm ownership, considering the potential risks even with thorough psychological evaluations.
- As the debate on policy-and-legislation surrounding firearms heats up following the Graz tragedy, concerns about crime-and-justice and general-news issues related to firearm ownership are at the forefront of political discussions.
