Debate about gun laws in Austria after the mass shooting in Graz
Inside the weapons store « Waffen Wanz » in central Graz stands a customer at the counter and discusses Tuesday’s mass shooting at a school two kilometers away.
– My name is Rambo, Magister Rambo, says a customer jokingly.
The arms dealer Christian Weidinger says the shooting has been on everyone’s lips among the sports shooters and hunters who come by. The 21-year-old perpetrator entered his old school and killed ten people with a shotgun and a gun, before finally taking his own life.
– Everyone is shocked. It is thought that it cannot happen in Austria, here in Graz. It’s hard to find the words to describe it, it’s horrible, says Christian Weidinger.
Several political plays around the country’s gun laws have come after the mass shooting. Graz Mayor Elke Kahr, who belongs to the country’s communist party, says she wants to see a total ban on firearms for private individuals.
« Weapons licenses are handed out too easily, » Kahr tells German press, adding that weapons should only be carried by security forces.
The party (KPÖ) backs its mayor’s demand for a ban on private firearms, but opens for exceptions to hunting and sports. President Alexander van der Bellen also signals that the law may need to be reviewed, and Austria’s environmental party requires tightening, including recurring psychological tests. Right -wing populist FPÖ blank no prohibition and dismisses it as symbolic politics. The government parties have so far refrained from commenting on the gun laws.
Christian Weidinger says it is wise to wait a few months instead of making drastic decisions in affection.
– To hurt someone, a crazy person and a weapon are needed. The weapon itself cannot do anything, he says.
The police are still trying to determine a motive, but Michael Lohnegger, head of the forensic department in the federal country Steiemark, says that the investigation indicates that the 21-year-old was very introverted and that his great passion was shooting online.
The gun dealer believes that such video games can cause the player to get a distorted picture of what a person’s life is worth.
– It’s so easy to kill others in play. You kill hundreds of people and laugh, he says.
Christian Weidinger has read on for DN’s interview and says that Sweden’s gun laws are in many ways similar to Austria. In Sweden, hunting is a popular leisure activity, and there are about 23 registered weapons per 100 inhabitants, according to the Swiss project Small Arms Survey. In Austria, hunting is also widespread, but there is also sports shooting a regular hobby. In 2018, Austria had about 30 weapons per 100 inhabitants.
To buy a rifle in Austria you must be at least 18 years old. In order to own guns, revolvers or semi -automatic weapons, a special permit is also required. In order to obtain this permit, one must undergo a psychological assessment and pass a shooting test that shows that you can handle the weapon in a safe and responsible way.
The law prohibits people from holding weapons or ammunition if it can jeopardize « life, health or freedom ». People who are considered unreliable are prohibited from owning and carrying firearms. It can be about the history of alcoholism, abuse, mental illness or being convicted of certain types of crime.
To carry weapons outside hunting or shooting clubs, even more rigorous controls are required – and such permits are rarely granted to private individuals.
Do you think the gun laws are hard enough?
– Yes, I think so. Such events cannot be prevented, says Christian Weidinger.
During a house search at home with the perpetrator, police found plans on a bomb attack and a non -functioning pipe bomb.
– If he had not had a weapon, he would have bombed the school in two, three weeks. Such people I don’t think it can be stopped.
He draws a parallel to neighboring Germany, which has tougher weapons laws and points out that there are many car attacks.
– Many more people die from cars than by legally purchased weapons, he says.
He also says that stores can take responsibility and says that he has on several occasions denied weapons sales to people who have behaved suspected. Then he has also made the police aware of the people in question.
