It’s published
The day after gunmen attacked Gruz’s school and killed 10 people, including students, the day before. Many questioned how such violence could occur and turned their attention to the country’s gun laws.
Police say the 21-year-old attacker legally owned both weapons used in Tuesday’s attack, the Glock pistol and shotgun.
According to the Kleine Zeitung newspaper, the attackers had purchased one of the weapons just before they attacked. To obtain it legally, he had to pass a psychological assessment, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing Austrian authorities.
Approximately 1.5 million weapons are registered in Austria. Austria has a population of just 9 million compared to other parts of Europe and is a country with more liberal gun laws.
Debate over the country’s laws has been picking up on Tuesday evening as Glaz Mayor Elke Kaar calls for a ban on arms in the private sector. In her opinion, gun licenses are “simply too fast.”
The Austrian newspaper, DER Standard, reported today that there are about 400,000 weapons in the alpine country than it was five years ago.
How liberal is Austrian gun law?
Compared to other European countries such as Germany and France, Austrian gun laws are considered somewhat liberal, particularly in the way that they allow ownership of handguns and cite self-defense as a reason for the ability to carry weapons.
Austrian weapons law divides firearms into four categories. Firearms covered by prohibited weapons (category A), firearms eligible for approval (category B), registration (category C) and other firearms (category D).
Owning Category B weapons, such as pistols and semi-automatic rifles, is permitted only through firearm licenses or firearm passes. The latter also allows the owner to carry weapons in public places.
Category C and D weapons (such as hunting rifles) can be purchased from age 18, but must be registered in the Central Weapon Registry within six weeks.
In Austria, basic requirements for legal possession of weapons do not include the existence of legal age, the retention of permanent residence, and the prohibition of weapons.
Depending on the weapon category, additional evidence such as reliability, training, and justification may also be required.
Weapons and ammunition should normally be safely stored in the gun cabinet at home and may only be transported in locked containers.
Austrian authorities have widely condemned the attack, which is said to be Austria’s worst mass shooting since World War II.
Austrian President Alexander van der Belen said, “Fear could not be put into words,” but Prime Minister Christian Stocker declared three days of mourning the people in response to the tragedy.
