ÖVP plans sharp weapons laws: security craze or real solution?

ÖVP plans sharp weapons laws: security craze or real solution?

Graz, Österreich - On June 14, 2025, a tragic killing spree occurred at a high school in Graz, in which a 21-year-old perpetrator shot nine young people and a teacher with a legal pistol and a sawn-off shotgun. After the terrible act, the perpetrator committed suicide. As a result, a wave of discussion about the role of politics and the need for tightening the weapons law rose in Austria. Tagesschau reports that the perpetrator had passed the psychological test for gun ownership despite an earlier psychological instability, which raised questions about the effectiveness of the current regulations.

Oleksandr Cherevko from the ÖVP, the Austrian People's Party, defended the political measures that are to be taken after the killing spree. Chancellor Christian Stocker announced new, stricter rules for gun ownership. Among other things, the increase in the minimum age for gun ownership and stricter psychological tests for the gun license are planned. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner also called for a better data exchange between the authorities to ensure that endangered people cannot come into contact with weapons. SPIEGEL

criticism of political measures

The politicians' reactions to the tragedy were sharply criticized. Gerald Grosz, an observer of the political scene, expressed the suspicion that the sympathy and grief of the politicians was rather fake. The political measures that the government suggests include the censorship of the Internet, the ban on social media for young people and the introduction of a national Trojan, to enable more comprehensive surveillance. oe24 emphasizes that these measures are not suitable for preventing future attacks, since they do not respond to the actual circumstances of the Graz attack.

Grosz warns that the measures pursue dual goals: on the one hand the cover -up of system failure that led to the tragic events in Graz, and on the other hand the introduction of comprehensive surveillance of the population. He emphasizes that the restriction of freedom in favor of supposed security could ultimately endanger both concepts.

future developments

The Austrian government plans to decide on the measures next Wednesday. An important point in the proposals is also the strictness of observation of endangered young people and the increase in police presence in schools and communities. Interestingly, the ÖVP received support from the SPÖ and the NEOS for the proposed changes to the weapons law. The latest surveys show that the population mainly sees the need to close the existing gaps in the system to prevent such a drama in the future

Despite the immediate reactions and the urgent problem, the question of a clear motive for the offender remains unanswered. He was considered introverted and lived, which only reinforced the tragedy of the entire situation.