After Graz: Austria plans drastic weapons law tortification!

After Graz: Austria plans drastic weapons law tortification!

The tragedy at a school in Graz triggered a storm of indignation in Austria and re -lived up to the debate about weapons law. On Tuesday, a 21-year-old man shot nine young people and a teacher at his former school before putting an end to his own life. The killing spree, which takes shocking dimensions for all of Austria, happened with a legally acquired Glock pistol and a sawn-off shotgun. It is worrying that the perpetrator, who only bought one of the weapons a few days ago, received a gun ownership card despite his psychological instability. This renewed discussion about gun law has now called on the government, which has already announced the first steps to tighten. As [Insuedthueringen] (https://www.insuedthueringen.de/inhalt.traDie-an- school-oesterreich-waffe-nach-amoklauf-chschaerfen.8af6c0a2-f560-4110B6d4cb3b. to raise the minimum age for gun buyers and to tighten the psychological tests for the purchase of a gun ownership card.

A package of measures is currently being developed, which is to be presented in the next week. The case of the perpetrator gives rise to concern, since in 2021 he was classified as unsuitable when he was patterning as a Bundesheer due to psychological instability, but was nevertheless able to meet the requirements for a weapon ownership card. In Austria, the acquisition of such a card consists of various requirements, including a psychological report, a weapon driving license training and a plausible justification for the acquisition of weapons. T-Online reports that the credibility of the psychological tests was questioned, since despite his psychological problems. This raises questions about the efficiency and strict of the existing regulations.

Comparison of weapons laws

Compared to Germany, weapons rights in Austria are much looser. While a reasonable need for weapons acquisition is necessary in Germany, the need for self -defense is often sufficient in Austria. For the purchase of a Glock pistol, for example, you have to be at least 25 years old in Germany, while this is possible in Austria at the age of 18. This means that more people can legally acquire weapons, which is once again moving into the light by the killing spree in Graz. [Br.de] (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/deutschland-welt/waffenrecht-im-vergleich-warum-ist-in-oesterreich-lockerer ,unujoza) emphasizes that the psychological review is strictly designed in Germany.

In addition, the process of buying weapons in Germany is made more difficult by bureaucratic requirements, such as the regular detection of the use of weapons in sports shooting. The establishment and maintenance of such strict regulations are based on historical reasons and the experience from the past. The question of whether and to what extent Austria can draw consequences from the recent events is now in space.

The reactions from different areas have already become loud. An arms dealer described the incident as a "super-gau" and the general horror about the approval for the perpetrator despite his psychological instabilities runs through society. It remains to be seen how the government will react to the challenges and whether the measures required will actually lead to a noticeable improvement in security.