Austria's government is planning drastic measures to AmoFlauf in Graz!

Austria's government is planning drastic measures to AmoFlauf in Graz!

Graz, Österreich - The killing spree at a school in Graz shaked Austria. On Tuesday, June 14, 2025, a 21-year-old Austrian exposed his cruel act with legal weapons, in which he shot nine young people and a teacher before taking his own life. The perpetrator had a Glock pistol and a sawn-off shotgun that he had acquired just a few days before the killing spree. With this incident, there is inevitably a discussion about gun law and security measures in Austria, where the laws for gun ownership are sometimes considered less strict than in other European countries, such as Stuttgart News reported.

The horror about the events in Graz is great, and the Austrian government under Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) is already planning a package of measures to tighten weapons right. Among other things, an increase in the minimum age for arms buyers and stricter psychological tests for obtaining a gun ownership card are planned. "We finally have to react," said a government representative who wants to remain anonymous.

proposals for the change in the law

The gunman was already classified as unsuitable for psychological instability in 2021. Nevertheless, he received a gun ownership card that enabled him to acquire the pistol legal. In Austria, the hurdles for the purchase of a shotgun are comparatively low. For pistols, on the other hand, proof of a psychological report is required that certifies the suitability of the applicant. Tests for stability, emotion control and escalation tendency are carried out, but the confidence in the effectiveness of these measures seems to have been shaken by the incident in Graz how t-online.de indicates.

A weapon dealer from Graz described the killing spree as "Super-Gau" and indicates that there are no known cases in Austria in Austria who have started with a legally acquired short-wale on innocent. This raises the question of how effective the current regulations are and whether they actually offer sufficient protection.

comparison with Germany

A comparison with countries like Germany shows that the framework conditions for weapons acquisition vary greatly. In Germany, a reasonable need - for example for hunting or sports shooting - is often sufficient in Austria, the mere statement of a need for self -defense is sufficient to obtain an arms pass. Therefore, the discussion about the tightening of weapons right among experts is unity to rethink the existing regulations in order to prevent future tragedies, as reports the [BR] (https://www.br.de/nachrichten/Deutschland-welt/waffenrecht-im-vergleich-warum-ist-es-in-oesterreich-lockerer ,unujoza).

The grief for the victims of the killing spree in Graz is clearly noticeable in public. Candles and flowers were laid down in front of the school, and many people come together to commemorate the victims and their relatives. The police have informed nationwide and appeals to the citizens of being careful with any other threats. The call for a reform of weapons law becomes louder, and it remains to be seen to what extent the upcoming decisions can increase security in Austria.