Does Austria need sharper gun laws? – Diepresse.com
After the terrible killing spree in Graz, in which a 21-year-old caused a bloodbath with a shotgun, the call for sharper arms laws becomes loud. Correctly? Discuss!
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A sea of lights in Graz after the killing spree with eleven deaths.
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APA / APA / Georg Hochmuth
A weapon ban for private individuals – this was the call for Mayor Elke Kahr (KPÖ) shortly after the killing spree at Borg Dreierschützengasse in Graz. She said, « Weapons should only wear our executive, no private individuals ». And it is not the only one who demands sharper weapons laws.
What is the situation currently looking? In international comparison, the gun laws in Austria are actually liberal, How Klaus Knittelfelder writes in an analysis. The whole system basically follows a classification of firearms: the purchase of weapons of category A (pump guns and machine guns) is generally prohibited. Category B includes fist firearms, repetitive shotguns and semi -automatic firearms. Rifles and shotguns fall into category C. Access to the latter is particularly easy, you basically have to be only 18 years old for acquisition and must not be prohibited with an explicit weapon ban. A weapon ownership card or a weapon passport is necessary for category B weapons.
Psychiatrist Jutta Leth calls for a conversation Christine Imlinger A completely new test and monitoring system for gun owners. She says with regard to the shooter Artur A.: « If someone gets a gun legally, then something is wrong with these tests. »
Daniel Bischof Writes in the editorial, demands for a weapon ban are « understandable, but excessive. » And further: « According to the central weapon register, around 374,000 people have a legal firearms. These are hunters, sports shooters or people who have obtained a weapon out of self -protection. All these people who properly deal with their weapons because of the crime of a man would be a serious intervention. » Bishop sees the need for improvement in Austria.
You can find more facts about gun ownership in Austria in this text: « Austria, Land Dhe firearms? « And how the topic is handled in other European countries, have summarized the colleagues from the EU department. (SK)
Discuss with: What experiences have you had with the topic of gun ownership? Does Austria need sharper gun laws? And if so, where should you best start?
