Tierschutz Austria demands: No exceptions for hunters when testing weapons!

Tierschutz Austria demands: No exceptions for hunters when testing weapons!

On September 5, 2025, Tierschutz Austria welcomes the planned reform of gun law, which aims to strengthen violence prevention. This emerges from a current statement by the organization, which clearly speaks out against exemptions for hunters from the psychological assessment requirement. President Madeleine Petrovic expresses her lack of understanding of these special regulations and urgently calls for more consistent security measures.

A central reason for these demands is the tragic triple murder in Annaberg in 2023, in which a hunter shot three people. According to Tierschutz Austria, it is important that all gun owners, including hunters, undergo regular psychological checks. The organization points to studies that show the connection between animal abuse and later violence against people.

Violence prevention measures

Tierschutz Austria emphasizes that animal cruel behavior should serve as an early warning signal for potential acts of violence against people. To move towards this goal, the organization calls for a number of measures, including:

• Psychologische Begutachtungspflicht auch für Jäger
• Waffenverbote bei nachgewiesener Tierquälerei
• Verpflichtende Meldung entsprechender Delikte an die Waffenbehörden
• Einrichtung einer zentralen Risikodatenbank für potenziell gefährliche Personen

Petrovic emphasizes that the protection of people and animals cannot be viewed separately. The current reform proposals aim to expand age limits and extend waiting periods for purchasing weapons. Nevertheless, the lack of a psychological assessment for hunters is a point that has met with strong criticism.

This discussion takes place in the context of nationwide efforts to reform gun law, which was also initiated by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser. The background is several violent incidents, including the shooting in Hamburg. Here a perpetrator who legally owned a semi-automatic pistol shot seven people. These incidents are causing politicians to reflect on the need for stronger gun controls.

However, Faeser's coalition partners, particularly the FDP, express concerns about the planned changes. Critics of the law would prefer better enforcement of existing laws rather than the introduction of new regulations. Nevertheless, there is broad political support for the call for stricter examination of firearms license applications and the inclusion of psychological reports for all applicants, not just those under 25.

Overall, current efforts make it clear that the issue of gun rights in Austria and Germany is being reassessed and that several social aspects, including animal protection, must be taken into account. The comprehensive reforms are intended to ensure that future acts of violence can be avoided through early intervention and preventive measures.

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