Policy of Self-restraint or Cautious Approach
In the disheartening wake of a school shooting in Graz, Austria, mourning has cast a shadow over the entire nation. With eleven lives lost, this tragic event has been the focus of public anguish. The peaceful streets of Graz may bear the weight of sorrow for some time to come.
During the three days of national mourning, political discourse has largely taken a backseat. Both the ruling parties and opposition have abstained from public debates, with the FPÖ and ÖVP cancelling their planned party conventions.
Several contentious topics have arisen in the aftermath of this horrifying act, including gun control, data protection, and the insufficient number of school psychologists. The government's responses have been more measured than the knee-jerk reactions of the past. Nevertheless, they have made it clear that decisions on appropriate measures will be made at the next council of ministers.
Interestingly, this political tranquility does not absolve the government from taking swift and decisive action. People expect justice following such a heinous act. Tightening gun laws will likely be the easier task, as the government seems to be united on this matter, despite potential internal opposition.
However, handling data protection, a sanctified cow in Austria, may prove to be more challenging. This becomes evident in the ongoing debate surrounding the surveillance of messenger services.
In a unique turn of events, the top tier of the turquoise-red-pink federal government has acted in a factual and politically unobtrusive manner. The opposition parties, including the Green Party's leader, Werner Kogler, have expressed agreement with the government's plans.
It's worth noting that President Alexander Van der Bellen has expressed his willingness to tighten Austria’s existing firearms regulations, and Graz’s mayor, Elke Kahr, calls for stricter restrictions, arguing that no private citizen should possess weapons[3]. Her sentiments contrast sharply with the current speed at which weapons licenses are issued. As of now, there has been no significant discussion from the Austrian government centering on data protection in relation to this incident[3]. The focus has mainly been on tightening gun laws and instituting safety measures for schools, rather than exploring changes to digital privacy or surveillance laws.
- The policy-and-legislation regarding gun control, data protection, and school psychologists has taken center stage in the aftermath of the school shooting, with the government promising to address these issues at the next council of ministers.
- The general-news is filled with discussions on the tightening of gun laws, particularly in regards to the opposition's internal disagreements and the president's expressed willingness to make changes.
- In the realm of crime-and-justice, the investigation into the shooting case is ongoing, while the political arena is witnessing a rare moment of unity and cooperation, with the opposition voices echoing the government's strategies on gun control.
