Government announces tightening of weapons right – diepresse.com

The National Council commemorated the victim of the killing spree at a Graz Gymnasium on Monday – and presented the government a package to increase security in schools. « All of Austria mourns the sacrifices and relatives, » said National Council President Walter Rosenkranz (FPÖ) at the beginning of the meeting. According to the tragedy, Austria’s politicians now had the task of taking measures so that the country will be spared such acts in the future.

After a minute’s silence, the government explained how this should be done. « I am here in front of them with a heavy heart, » said Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP). The killing spree is a national tragedy of previously unknown extent, a turning point. Schools have been shaken by a space of security and the senseless killing spree. « We shake hands with each other at this time, » the ÖVP boss appealed.

Package of measures as a « first determined step »

« Our responsibility does not end with the state mourning, » emphasized Stocker. You have to ask yourself how to achieve schools even safer and how to achieve young people with psychological problems earlier. On Wednesday, the government will therefore decide on a package of measures in the Council of Ministers as the « first determined step », which includes the following points:

• A compensation fund for affected families, with which burial costs or psychological care are financed.
• « Greatest possible flexibility » for affected Maturants of the Borg Dreierschützengasse: the conclusion is made possible without an oral Matura.
• The police presence in front of schools will be increased at least until the end of the school year.
• School psychological support is increased. This should become « the rule, not the exception, » said Stocker. School dropouts should be advised in the future.
• In the future, each school must have a practical security concept that will be adjusted regularly.
• Clasping the weapons law: Stricter aptitude requirements and restrictions for certain risk groups are to be introduced. In addition, the data exchange between the authorities is to be improved.
• Stocker also announced stricter rules in dealing with children and adolescents with social media without naming details.

Babler: « My heart is broken »

« My chest is tight, my neck braces and my heart is broken, » said Vice Chancellor Andreas Babler (SPÖ). The « painful answer », whether you had done enough to protect children so far, is: « It wasn’t enough. » The government has therefore agreed on the package of measures. For the SPÖ boss, there is « really no reason why you should be able to buy a shotgun at the age of 18 without a strict test. »

Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) also emphasized the « deep grief » of the whole country. The Ministry of Education pursues a comprehensive strategy against bullying at schools: « Our security begins with good mental health. » The earlier you can see threats in the future, the better, says Meinl-Reisinger.

Kickl: « Let’s think things through »

FPÖ boss Herbert Kickl emphasized that no one who was not directly affected could grasp the suffering of the relatives in the full dimension. This suffering could only be alleviated a little. « Everything has his time, » Kickl quoted from the Bible – and now in his opinion it is not the time to announce problem solutions. « Let’s think about things carefully, » said the FPÖ boss, only then should one act « determined and holistically ». The question is « how we reconcile the right to security and protection with the right to freedom ».

The Greens boss Werner Kogler saw differently: « We should consciously use this occasion and operate event legislation. » You have to do everything to reduce the likelihood of « from such amazing things. Austria have tabs and a high density of legal as well as illegal weapons, Kogler criticized: » What kind of world is that an omnipresent claim to weapons? « . Rather, the basic principle should be « freedom of weapons », with the exception of hunters, sports shooters and people who are specifically threatened.