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A day after a gunman attacked a school in Graz and killed 10, including students, many in Austria were left questioning how such an act of violence could occur, turning attention to the country’s gun laws.
According to police, the 21-year-old attacker legally owned both weapons used in the assault on Tuesday: a Glock pistol and a shotgun.
According to Kleine Zeitung newspaper, the attacker had purchased one of the weapons just days before carrying out the attack. To acquire it legally, he was required to pass a psychological evaluation, Süddeutsche Zeitung reported, citing Austrian authorities.
Around 1.5 million weapons are registered in Austria – a country with a population of just over 9 million and more liberal gun laws relative to the rest of Europe.
After the attack, a debate on the country’s laws is gaining pace, with Graz Mayor Elke Kahr calling for a ban on weapons in the private sector on Tuesday evening. In her opinion, gun licences are “simply issued too quickly”.
Austrian newspaper Der Standard reported that there are approximately 400,000 more weapons in the Alpine country today than there were five years ago.
How liberal are Austria’s gun laws?
Compared to other European countries such as Germany or France, Austria’s gun laws are considered to be somewhat more liberal, especially in how they allow for handgun ownership and cite self-defence as a reason to be able to carry weapons.
Austria’s Weapons Act divides firearms into four categories: Prohibited weapons (category A), firearms subject to authorisation (category B), firearms subject to registration (category C) and other firearms (category D).
The possession of category B weapons — such as pistols or semi-automatic rifles — is only permitted with a firearms licence or a firearms pass. The latter also authorises the holder to carry the weapon in public.
Category C and D weapons — such as hunting rifles — may be purchased from the age of 18, but must be registered in the Central Weapons Register within six weeks.
In Austria, the basic requirements for legal possession of weapons include being of legal age, holding a permanent residence permit, and not having a weapons ban.
Depending on the weapon category, additional proof such as reliability, training, and evidence of justification may also be required.
Weapons and ammunition must be stored safely at home, usually in a gun cabinet, and may only be transported unloaded and in a locked container.
Austrian authorities have widely condemned the attack, said to be Austria’s worst mass shooting since World War II.
Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen said the “horror could not be put into words”, while Chancellor Christian Stocker has declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy.
