Latest news with #SmallArmsSurvey
17-06-2025
- Politics
Austria's chancellor vows to toughen gun laws after a deadly school shooting
VIENNA -- Austria will toughen its gun laws, its chancellor said Monday, after a 21-year-old former student killed nine students and a teacher at his school last week in what's considered the Alpine country's deadliest post-war attack. The shooting had sparked a debate about Austria's gun laws, which are among the more liberal in the European Union. The assailant in Graz used a shotgun and a pistol which he owned legally, police said shortly after the attack. 'Access to weapons must be regulated even more responsibly in Austria,' Christian Stocker said during a speech in Parliament in Vienna. The new laws will include 'stricter eligibility requirements for gun ownership and restrictions for certain risk groups,' the chancellor said, adding that data-sharing between the different authorities would be improved as well. 'In the future, wherever an individual risk situation is identified, consequences under firearms law must be drawn automatically,' Stocker said. The chancellor said his Cabinet would pass the new measures later this week but didn't give any further details. However, on Saturday, Stocker told public broadcaster ORF that toughening the laws could include raising the minimum age for gun buyers. In the school shooting Tuesday at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, nine students were killed — six girls and three boys aged between 14 and 17 — as well as a teacher. Another 11 people were wounded. The attacker killed himself in a bathroom of his former school. Traditionally, many in Austria hold weapons, which they often use to go hunting in the Alpine country's vast forests. In general, it's more common to carry a weapon for that and less for self-defense. According to the Small Arms Survey, Austria ranks 12th in the world when it comes to holding civilian firearms, with 30 firearms per 100 residents. That's far less than in the U.S. which tops the ranking with 120 firearms per 100 residents, but more than Austria's neighbor Germany, which ranked 23rd with 19 firearms per 100 residents. In Austria, some weapons, such as rifles and shotguns that must be reloaded manually after each shot, can be purchased from the age of 18 without a permit. Gun dealers only need to check if there's no weapons ban on the buyer, and the weapon is added to the central weapons register. Other weapons, such as repeating shotguns or semi-automatic firearms, are more difficult to acquire. Buyers need a gun ownership card and a firearms pass. Austria Press Agency has reported that the suspect had a gun ownership card, but this document merely entitles a holder to acquire and possess, but not to carry weapons such as the handgun. That weapon also would have required a firearm pass. In his speech on Monday, the chancellor also announced that all schools in the country would get more long-term psychological support for students and that police would increase their presence in front of schools until the end of the school year this summer. In addition, Stocker said, the government will create a compensation fund 'that will make it possible to help the affected families quickly and unbureaucratically — for example with funeral costs, psychological care or other urgently needed support services.'
San Francisco Chronicle
16-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Austria's chancellor vows to toughen gun laws after a deadly school shooting
VIENNA (AP) — Austria will toughen its gun laws, its chancellor said Monday, after a 21-year-old former student killed nine students and a teacher at his school last week in what's considered the Alpine country's deadliest post-war attack. The shooting had sparked a debate about Austria's gun laws, which are among the more liberal in the European Union. The assailant in Graz used a shotgun and a pistol which he owned legally, police said shortly after the attack. 'Access to weapons must be regulated even more responsibly in Austria,' Christian Stocker said during a speech in Parliament in Vienna. The new laws will include 'stricter eligibility requirements for gun ownership and restrictions for certain risk groups,' the chancellor said, adding that data-sharing between the different authorities would be improved as well. 'In the future, wherever an individual risk situation is identified, consequences under firearms law must be drawn automatically,' Stocker said. The chancellor said his Cabinet would pass the new measures later this week but didn't give any further details. However, on Saturday, Stocker told public broadcaster ORF that toughening the laws could include raising the minimum age for gun buyers. In the school shooting Tuesday at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, nine students were killed — six girls and three boys aged between 14 and 17 — as well as a teacher. Another 11 people were wounded. The attacker killed himself in a bathroom of his former school. Traditionally, many in Austria hold weapons, which they often use to go hunting in the Alpine country's vast forests. In general, it's more common to carry a weapon for that and less for self-defense. According to the Small Arms Survey, Austria ranks 12th in the world when it comes to holding civilian firearms, with 30 firearms per 100 residents. That's far less than in the U.S. which tops the ranking with 120 firearms per 100 residents, but more than Austria's neighbor Germany, which ranked 23rd with 19 firearms per 100 residents. In Austria, some weapons, such as rifles and shotguns that must be reloaded manually after each shot, can be purchased from the age of 18 without a permit. Gun dealers only need to check if there's no weapons ban on the buyer, and the weapon is added to the central weapons register. Other weapons, such as repeating shotguns or semi-automatic firearms, are more difficult to acquire. Buyers need a gun ownership card and a firearms pass. Austria Press Agency has reported that the suspect had a gun ownership card, but this document merely entitles a holder to acquire and possess, but not to carry weapons such as the handgun. That weapon also would have required a firearm pass. In his speech on Monday, the chancellor also announced that all schools in the country would get more long-term psychological support for students and that police would increase their presence in front of schools until the end of the school year this summer. In addition, Stocker said, the government will create a compensation fund 'that will make it possible to help the affected families quickly and unbureaucratically — for example with funeral costs, psychological care or other urgently needed support services.'
Hamilton Spectator
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Austria's chancellor vows to toughen gun laws after a deadly school shooting
VIENNA (AP) — Austria will toughen its gun laws, its chancellor said Monday, after a 21-year-old former student killed nine students and a teacher at his school last week in what's considered the Alpine country's deadliest post-war attack. The shooting had sparked a debate about Austria's gun laws, which are among the more liberal in the European Union. The assailant in Graz used a shotgun and a pistol which he owned legally, police said shortly after the attack. 'Access to weapons must be regulated even more responsibly in Austria,' Christian Stocker said during a speech in Parliament in Vienna. The new laws will include 'stricter eligibility requirements for gun ownership and restrictions for certain risk groups,' the chancellor said, adding that data-sharing between the different authorities would be improved as well. 'In the future, wherever an individual risk situation is identified, consequences under firearms law must be drawn automatically,' Stocker said. The chancellor said his Cabinet would pass the new measures later this week but didn't give any further details. However, on Saturday, Stocker told public broadcaster ORF that toughening the laws could include raising the minimum age for gun buyers. In the school shooting Tuesday at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, nine students were killed — six girls and three boys aged between 14 and 17 — as well as a teacher. Another 11 people were wounded . The attacker killed himself in a bathroom of his former school. Traditionally, many in Austria hold weapons, which they often use to go hunting in the Alpine country's vast forests. In general, it's more common to carry a weapon for that and less for self-defense. According to the Small Arms Survey, Austria ranks 12th in the world when it comes to holding civilian firearms, with 30 firearms per 100 residents. That's far less than in the U.S. which tops the ranking with 120 firearms per 100 residents, but more than Austria's neighbor Germany, which ranked 23rd with 19 firearms per 100 residents. In Austria, some weapons, such as rifles and shotguns that must be reloaded manually after each shot, can be purchased from the age of 18 without a permit. Gun dealers only need to check if there's no weapons ban on the buyer, and the weapon is added to the central weapons register. Other weapons, such as repeating shotguns or semi-automatic firearms, are more difficult to acquire. Buyers need a gun ownership card and a firearms pass. Austria Press Agency has reported that the suspect had a gun ownership card, but this document merely entitles a holder to acquire and possess, but not to carry weapons such as the handgun. That weapon also would have required a firearm pass. In his speech on Monday, the chancellor also announced that all schools in the country would get more long-term psychological support for students and that police would increase their presence in front of schools until the end of the school year this summer. In addition, Stocker said, the government will create a compensation fund 'that will make it possible to help the affected families quickly and unbureaucratically — for example with funeral costs, psychological care or other urgently needed support services.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Austria's chancellor vows to toughen gun laws after a deadly school shooting
VIENNA (AP) — Austria will toughen its gun laws, its chancellor said Monday, after a 21-year-old former student killed nine students and a teacher at his school last week in what's considered the Alpine country's deadliest post-war attack. The shooting had sparked a debate about Austria's gun laws, which are among the more liberal in the European Union. The assailant in Graz used a shotgun and a pistol which he owned legally, police said shortly after the attack. 'Access to weapons must be regulated even more responsibly in Austria,' Christian Stocker said during a speech in Parliament in Vienna. The new laws will include 'stricter eligibility requirements for gun ownership and restrictions for certain risk groups,' the chancellor said, adding that data-sharing between the different authorities would be improved as well. 'In the future, wherever an individual risk situation is identified, consequences under firearms law must be drawn automatically,' Stocker said. The chancellor said his Cabinet would pass the new measures later this week but didn't give any further details. However, on Saturday, Stocker told public broadcaster ORF that toughening the laws could include raising the minimum age for gun buyers. In the school shooting Tuesday at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz, nine students were killed — six girls and three boys aged between 14 and 17 — as well as a teacher. Another 11 people were wounded. The attacker killed himself in a bathroom of his former school. Traditionally, many in Austria hold weapons, which they often use to go hunting in the Alpine country's vast forests. In general, it's more common to carry a weapon for that and less for self-defense. According to the Small Arms Survey, Austria ranks 12th in the world when it comes to holding civilian firearms, with 30 firearms per 100 residents. That's far less than in the U.S. which tops the ranking with 120 firearms per 100 residents, but more than Austria's neighbor Germany, which ranked 23rd with 19 firearms per 100 residents. In Austria, some weapons, such as rifles and shotguns that must be reloaded manually after each shot, can be purchased from the age of 18 without a permit. Gun dealers only need to check if there's no weapons ban on the buyer, and the weapon is added to the central weapons register. Other weapons, such as repeating shotguns or semi-automatic firearms, are more difficult to acquire. Buyers need a gun ownership card and a firearms pass. Austria Press Agency has reported that the suspect had a gun ownership card, but this document merely entitles a holder to acquire and possess, but not to carry weapons such as the handgun. That weapon also would have required a firearm pass. In his speech on Monday, the chancellor also announced that all schools in the country would get more long-term psychological support for students and that police would increase their presence in front of schools until the end of the school year this summer. In addition, Stocker said, the government will create a compensation fund 'that will make it possible to help the affected families quickly and unbureaucratically — for example with funeral costs, psychological care or other urgently needed support services.'
Kuwait Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
Deadly shooting fuels debate on Austria gun laws
VIENNA: With Austria still reeling from this week's deadly school shooting that killed 10 people, a debate is now raging over the Alpine country's gun laws. The unprecedented case of deadly gun violence stunned the country of almost 9.2 million people, which ranks among the 10 safest in the world, according to the Global Peace Index. While politicians have called for tighter restrictions on private gun ownership in the wake of the shooting in Graz, interest in firearms and demand for weapons training courses has surged. 'You can't imagine how many people have signed up for shooting courses' since Tuesday's attack, Viennese gun dealer Markus Schwaiger, who also offers training courses at shooting ranges, told AFP. 'People are worried that gun laws are about to get tightened' in the coming months, he added. Austria has a relatively high number of weapons in circulation, with more than 1.5 million registered to about 370,000 owners. 'Strong gun culture' According to industry expert Aaron Karp, Austria has a 'strong gun culture' centered around 'hunting and sports shooting, especially in the countryside', which is rich with game. The Alpine nation is also one of the European countries with the largest number of small arms in circulation per capita, said Karp, one of the authors of the Small Arms Survey, which compiles data on gun ownership. Famous for the Glock pistol, invented by Austrian engineer Gaston Glock, gun ownership is deeply rooted in the country - and has been on a steady rise in recent decades: only about 900,000 weapons were registered in Austria in 2015, according to official figures. For Schwaiger, 'rising populism' has also played its part, with right-wing politicians tapping into people's anxieties over crises, arguing that the world has become a more dangerous place. 'For twenty years, right-wing populism has been scaring people' and 'every crisis causes sales to skyrocket,' he told AFP. The shooting at a secondary school in the southern city of Graz by a 21-year-old former pupil was the deadliest postwar mass shooting in Austria. But a study published online in 2020 in the European Psychiatry journal suggests that the number of violent deaths in Austria has been increasing in lockstep with the number of weapons. In order to join the European Union in 1995, Austria had to regulate the sale of firearms, which temporarily led to a drop in violent deaths - until the financial crisis of 2008 hit. According to the study, the positive effect of the reform has been 'offset by the global economic slowdown', which increased anxiety among the public and thus the tendency to purchase weapons. 'After such an act of madness... there must be consequences and changes,' Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said on Friday. Under the current legislation, anyone without a criminal record and over the age of 21 can buy handguns after undergoing an assessment and registering their weapon. 'Unfit' 'The standards for psychological testing' to grant gun licenses in Austria are 'very good', said Karp, but proper implementation appears to be the bottleneck. The gunman, who killed nine pupils and a teacher in Graz, was rejected from Austria's mandatory military service after failing the psychological tests and being deemed 'unfit'. He was nonetheless able to receive a gun license and purchase the shotgun and pistol that he used in the attack. 'He obviously found a gun dealer and a psychologist who didn't look too closely,' Schwaiger lamented. 'There is still too much leeway.' Such shortcomings have been dominating and fuelling the most recent debate on Austria's gun laws, with the opposition Green Party tabling a bill to tighten legislation in May. Austrian authorities have said they plan to consult other European countries like France, Sweden and the Czech Republic, which have experienced mass shootings in the past. 'But there are cultural differences and each country must chart its own course,' Karp said. — AFP
