Gun ownership in Austria: record numbers and shocking insights!

Gun ownership in Austria: record numbers and shocking insights!

On July 7, 2025, the discussion about gun ownership in Austria came into focus again. Yilmaz Gülüm will present his comprehensive “report” on Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 9:05 p.m. on ORF 2 and ORF ON, which deals with the alarming increase in firearms in the country. The report highlights that there are currently around 1.5 million firearms in Austria. This represents a 70% increase over the last decade, exceeded only in Finland, where there are even more weapons per 100 inhabitants. These developments raise questions about the effectiveness of psychological assessments for gun ownership and open discussions about the possible liberalization of gun laws. OTS reports that…

Especially after the tragic shooting in Graz, in which eleven people lost their lives, the pressure on politicians to raise the hurdles for gun ownership has increased. According to reports, the alleged perpetrator owned his weapons legally and had completed a psychological test with civilian authorities in March to purchase a pistol. Nevertheless, the armed forces discovered the perpetrator's psychological instability during the examination. These contrasting findings highlight the challenges in current legislation and the discussions taking place in the coalition parties about tightening gun laws. While all parties support measures, the FPÖ rejects any tightening as symbolic politics. ORF reports that...

Gun law and psychological reports

In Austria, anyone interested in a revolver, pistol or semi-automatic firearms must meet a few criteria: They must be at least 21 years old, a reliable citizen of the European Economic Area and be able to credibly explain why they need a weapon. In order to obtain a weapon ownership card, proof of how to handle weapons is also required, as is a psychological report. Courier reports that...

Critics, such as the head of the BÖP's legal psychology section, Julia Wachter, criticize the outdated tests that are often used. There is no uniform definition of what appraisers should check to determine weapon psychological reliability. Exclusion criteria such as drug or alcohol addiction and mental disorders are taken into account, but there is a lack of legally required individual anamnesis discussions between experts and applicants, which affects the quality of the assessment. The debate about the need for a serious assessment is becoming increasingly louder and is also being heard at the political level.

Energy prices and climate impacts

However, the issue of gun ownership is not isolated. The upcoming report will also cover energy price developments. The government plans to make prices more transparent and less bureaucratic, while the discussion about private PV system owners' participation in network costs continues. This raises questions about fairness and the impact on the renewable energy market. Economics Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer has already expressed concern about high energy prices.

Another central theme of the report is the heat trap of the city. Cities are increasingly struggling with temperatures of up to 38 degrees, which poses major challenges due to asphalt and concrete. In this context, the inadequate preparation for the consequences of the climate crisis is also discussed and the need for an effective climate protection law is addressed. The policy framework to address these challenges currently lacks a coherent approach to urban planning and greening.