New rules for gun ownership: Safety after a shooting spree in Graz!

New rules for gun ownership: Safety after a shooting spree in Graz!

The Austrian government has taken the first steps to tighten gun laws after the tragic shooting rampage in Graz. On September 4th, the Interior Committee, headed by chairman Ernst Gödl, will meet for the first time to discuss the planned changes to the law. These were already decided by the coalition in early summer and are a direct reaction to the shocking events at BORG Dreierschützengasse, where the perpetrator owned his weapons legally, despite psychological abnormalities. Coming to terms with this incident and committing to better managing future risks are the focus of the new measures.

Plans include, among other things, an increase in the minimum age for purchasing particularly dangerous firearms from 21 to 25 years and a limitation of the gun ownership card to eight years for first-time gun owners. These are critical steps that Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler sees as a necessary compromise to regulate access to dangerous firearms. Consent to an exchange of data between psychological examinations and the weapons authorities was also signaled in order to identify potential risks at an early stage. In addition, the waiting period for purchasing the first weapon will be extended from three days to four weeks to allow for additional safety precautions.

Most important changes and new regulations

• Erhöhung des Mindestalters für den Erwerb gefährlicher Waffen auf 25 Jahre
• Befristete Waffenbesitzkarte für Erstbesitzer auf acht Jahre
• Zugänglichkeit der Ergebnisse psychologischer Untersuchungen für Waffenbehörden
• Möglichkeit eines bis zu zehnjährigen Waffenverbots bei Auffälligkeiten
• Vorläufiges Waffenverbot bei Ermittlungen zu häuslicher Gewalt
• Dauerhaftes Waffenverbot bei Verurteilungen in diesem Bereich
• Nur registrierte Waffengeschäfte dürfen Waffen aushändigen

The planned measures are met with criticism from the Greens and the FPÖ, who are calling for stricter action. Green Party chairman Werner Kogler argues that the changes are insufficient to sustainably improve the weapons situation. In his opinion, the focus should be shifted from the freedom to own weapons to the freedom from weapons. The discussion about the reforms takes place in the light of current social debates about gun violence and safety.

Support measures for those affected

In addition to tightening the law, the government has approved a compensation fund worth 20 million euros for the victims and relatives of the shooting spree in Graz. This financial support is intended to help those affected and the school affected come to terms with the traumatic incident. The number of school psychologists is to be doubled in the next three years in order to support students with psychological stress.

The government emphasizes the need to promote schools as safe places and has already announced measures to strengthen security concepts in schools. This also includes mandatory counseling sessions for parents in cases of school dropouts or suspensions and an increased police presence in front of schools.

These reforms are part of a comprehensive security policy approach, which also includes reviewing the funding and approval criteria for audiovisual media services and creating clear rules for social media platforms to better protect children and young people from violence and cyberbullying. The government's efforts underscore the urgent need for action to prevent similar incidents in the future while still protecting citizens' rights.

With the upcoming discussions in the Interior Committee, the implementation of these measures will be crucial for future gun legislation in Austria.