Gun laws: Discussion about tightening them after the Graz shooting spree flares up!

Gun laws: Discussion about tightening them after the Graz shooting spree flares up!

After the shooting in Graz, the discussion about tightening gun laws in Austria has flared up again. In the ORF's "ZIB 2" Kahr said that the current issuing of firearms licenses was happening too quickly. He demands that only the executive branch should carry weapons, with possible exceptions for hunting and sports. This opinion is supported by the Federal KPÖ. Meri Disoski, the Green Member of the National Council, spoke out in the Ö1 “Mittagsjournal” in favor of a general ban on firearms for private individuals. However, she emphasized that there is currently no parliamentary majority for such a ban.

Austria's gun law is considered one of the most liberal in Europe, but it has loopholes, particularly when it comes to psychological checks on gun carriers. Under the current regulations, no criminal record is required to purchase a “Category B” firearm and only a one-time psychological background test is required. These points are central to the demands of the Greens, who want this test to be repeated every five years and want it to be extended to “Category C” weapons.

Political differences and initiatives

Despite the push to tighten gun laws, there are significant political differences. The FPÖ considers the existing gun laws to be one of the strictest in Europe and sees the tightening of the laws as more of a symbolic policy than a real contribution to security. According to the FPÖ, no law can prevent tragic events like the shooting spree in Graz. They also emphasize that most gun crimes are committed with illegal weapons, which is why they interpret any tightening as a mistrust of innocent citizens.

Amid these controversial discussions, the ÖVP currently has no preference for changing the law and is focusing on remembering the victims. The National Security Council, which meets on Thursday, will analyze the background to the shooting. The ÖVP plans to develop preventative measures for the future based on the discussions, while the Social Democrats are also discussing the content of the weapons law.

Future measures and implementation

The Austrian federal government is planning a technical implementation of tightening gun laws before the start of the new school year. These measures are aimed not only at a possible change in gun law, but also at better protection for victims. Klagenfurt's deputy mayor Ronald Rabitsch from the SPÖ is even calling for a general ban on weapons for private individuals, which further increases the tensions that already exist in the debate.

The discussion about a comprehensive reform of gun law remains exciting, as various political actors set their priorities and the population continues to react with concern to the events in Graz. For more information about firearms reliability testing and requirements, please visit the website KFV.