Weapons right: Discussion about tightening after Graz-Amo-Lauf flared!

Weapons right: Discussion about tightening after Graz-Amo-Lauf flared!

After the killing spree in Graz, the discussion about tightening weapons right in Austria has flared up. In the "ZIB 2" of ORF, Kahr said that the current allocation of gun license was too quick. He demands that only the executive weapons should wear, with possible exceptions for hunting and sport. This opinion finds support from the Bundes-KPÖ. Meri Disoski, the Green Member of the National Council, spoke out in the Ö1 “lunch journal” for a general ban on firearms for private individuals. However, she emphasized that there was currently no parliamentary majority for such a ban.

The Austrian weapons law is one of the most liberal in Europe, but it has gaps, especially with regard to the psychological reviews of arms. In the current regulation, no criminal record is required for the acquisition of a firearm of "category B", and only a one -time psychological reliability test is required. These points are centrally in the demands of the Greens, who demand a repeat of this exam every five years and want it to be expanded to "Category C" weapons.

political differences and initiatives

Despite the advances for tightening the weapons law, there are considerable political differences. The FPÖ considers the existing weapons law to be one of the strictest in Europe and sees the tightening of the laws more of a symbol policy than a real contribution to security. According to FPÖ, no law can prevent tragic events such as the killing spree in Graz. In addition, they emphasize that most weapon offenses are committed with illegal weapons, which is why they interpret an exacerbation as distrust of unsolved citizens.

future measures and implementation

The Austrian federal government plans to implement a technical implementation of tightening the weapons right before the start of the new school year. These measures not only aim at a possible change in weapons law, but also on better victim protection. Klagenfurt Mayor Ronald Rabitsch from the SPÖ even demands a general ban on weapons for private individuals, which further strengthens the existing tensions in the debate.

The discussion about a comprehensive reform of weapons right remains exciting, since various political actors set their priorities and the population continues to respond to the events in Graz. For further information on the reliability of the weapons law and the requirements, please visit the website of the KFV .