Over 60,000 people call for the change of weapons law according to Graz-AmoFlauf

Over 60,000 people call for the change of weapons law according to Graz-AmoFlauf

Over 60,000 people signed the #aufstehn online appeal for an immediate ban on firearms for private individuals. This massive support follows a killing spree in Graz, in which the perpetrator had legally acquired one of the firearms used shortly before the incident. The campaign is aimed directly at Interior Minister Gerhard Karner and the Austrian federal government with the clear goal of tightening weapons legislation in Austria. According to [ots.at] (https://www.ots.at/presseaus-sung/ots_20250613_ots0008/nach-grazer-amoclauf-ueber-60000-men's weapon-fuer-private person) Austria is one of the countries with the loosest weapons laws in Europe, as Philine Dressler, the campaign manager, states.

In Austria, over 1.5 million firearms are registered privately, the trend is rising. The campaign demands that weapons do not belong in apartments, streets or in schools, and continue to work for a comprehensive reform of the weapons laws to increase the pressure on the federal government.

background of the weapons law

The weapons law in Austria, also known as the federal law on the weapons police, came into force on July 1, 1997 and has received several changes since then. It regulates the handling of weapons, including the acquisition, property, trade and destruction of firearms and ammunition. An important goal of the law is the regulation of gun ownership in the Republic of Austria, which is achieved by different categories of weapons. In particular, the law differentiates between forbidden weapons (category A), weapons subject to approval (category B) and firearms that none of these categories belong to (category C). The law is updated regularly to take new security policy challenges, such as the changes due to the terrorist attacks in Paris in 2016, which led to stricter regulations for weapons wikipedia.

A central point of the weapons law is the need for a weapon ownership card or a weapon passport for the lawful acquisition and leading weapons. Interested parties also have to pass a psychological test for short guns, which can be repeated if there is no existence. Regardless of the type of weapon, clear regulations for secure custody must be observed in order to prevent abuse.

Current discussion and demands

The debate about weapons law in Austria is fueled by the high number of registered firearms and the associated risks. The demand for a ban on weapons for private individuals is becoming increasingly important. The discussion about the availability of semi -automatic rifles that are based on military models is also reinstalled. These rifles are available under certain conditions, but also require a gun ownership card. The potential danger of short guns, such as the well -known Glock 17, which holds up to 17 shots, is also discussed in public. These weapons are particularly controversial due to their high shooting sequence and the possibility of being reloaded quickly.

The debate about weapons law in Austria has mobilized the citizens and will also gain sharpness through the tragic events in Graz. The future of weapons laws could be decisively influenced by this public pressure and ongoing campaigns. The support for a clear change in weapons legislation could thus have far-reaching political consequences Kurier.