Austria's Gun Law Reform Following Tragic School Shooting

In the wake of the tragic school shooting in Graz, Austria, where nine students and a teacher lost their lives, the Austrian government has proposed extensive reforms to gun ownership laws. These changes come as a direct response to the nation grappling with the implications of the deadliest shooting in its history.

The proposed reforms aim to increase the minimum age for owning firearms, particularly handguns, from 21 to 25 years. Additionally, the government plans to bolster psychological evaluations required for gun ownership, implement a four-week waiting period for the first weapon, and improve the sharing of psychological assessment results among governmental bodies. Chancellor Christian Stocker expressed the somber reality of the situation, stating, “Nothing we do... will bring back the 10 people we lost,” emphasizing the commitment to learning from this incident.

The shooter, a 21-year-old former student with a history of antisocial behavior and previous failure on a psychological assessment for military service, managed to legally acquire the firearms used in the attack—a modified Glock pistol and a shotgun. His fascination with prior school shootings has raised questions about gun laws and mental health assessments in Austria.

This tragic event has reignited discussions across the country about gun violence, mental health, and the measures needed to prevent such occurrences in the future.