Gun ownership in Burgenland is increasing: 75,000 firearms registered!

Gun ownership in Burgenland is increasing: 75,000 firearms registered!

In Burgenland, the number of registered gun owners has risen sharply. According to current reports, over 12,300 gun ownership cards have already been issued at the beginning of 2025. This poses a significant increase compared to the approximately 10,000 cards registered at the beginning of 2019. Overall, the number of registered firearms in Burgenland is over 75,000, which corresponds to more than six as many weapons as existing weapon ownership cards, as https://exxpress.at/news/waffenbesitz-im-burgenland-ueber-75-000-waffen- Registered/)

In Austria, long weapons of category C, such as shotguns and hunting rifles, have no age restriction for the purchase, so that they are freely available from the age of 18. On the other hand, a weapon possession card is required for the possession of fist fir weapons (category B). In order to obtain this, applicants must be at least 21 years old, have a weapons license and exist a psychological report. In this context, the Graz killing spree sparked new discussions about the psychological tests to obtain gun ownership cards.

like Jörg Prieler, psychologist for weapons law reliability tests, explained, the selection process and intensity of the tests are crucial. In the event of a negative test result, the competent authority will be informed and a new application can be made after six months. However, critics indicate outdated test methods, while Prieler emphasizes that the procedures are standardized. Julia Wachter, Head of the Böp department, condemns the partially used old tests and emphasizes that there is no clear definition of what experts should test when it comes to gun psychological reliability, as is [KURIER.AT reported.

Another problem is the fact that the gun ownership, exclusion criteria such as drug or alcohol addiction as well as mental disorders and poorness of ment, apply. The individual history between the expert and the applicant is not required by law, but is carried out by reputable experts. Critics also criticize the practice of mass tests in which several people are tested at the same time.

Perspective in society as a whole

Against the background of these developments, there are also social concerns: According to Rainer Kastner, weapon psychologist, many people indicate that they want to become sports shooters often lead to self -protection as a real reason. According to the Global Peace Index, Austria is currently the third most peaceful country in the world, but the subjective well -being has decreased after the 2015 refugee crisis and the global terrorist attacks.