State police chief calls for knife ban after shooting rampage in Graz

State police chief calls for knife ban after shooting rampage in Graz

The mood in Vienna has deteriorated since a shooting at a high school in Graz on June 14, 2025 left deeper scars. The 21-year-old perpetrator shot nine teenagers and a teacher and then took his own life. This terrible incident has fueled debate about security measures in Austria, particularly regarding the possession and use of weapons. State police chief Gerhard Pürstl is now calling for a general ban on knives in public spaces in order to avert potential dangers. In an interview with meinkreis.at Pürstl said that the seriousness of the threats had to be recognized and appropriate measures had to be taken.

Felix Kühn, a 21-year-old who has been employed in the school psychology service in Vienna since 2015, has repeatedly criticized in the past that not only the supervision of young people at risk, but also the networking of the authorities needs to be improved. This has taken on new urgency after the tragedy in Graz. The Austrian government is planning measures to tighten gun laws, which will include, among other things, a higher minimum age for gun ownership and more stringent psychological tests tagesschau.de reported.

New rules for safety in public spaces

The uncertainties caused by the shooting mean that both the police and the government are intensively addressing the issue of gun laws. Pürstl highlights that a total of 175 dangerous items, including around 120 knives, were seized in Favoriten in 2022. “Why should someone carry a knife with them in public spaces?” asks the state police chief. According to Pürstl, knives are a major safety risk in urban areas and he calls for urgent measures to ban them.

The intended tightening of gun laws could set new standards. Chancellor Christian Stocker has announced that measures such as raising the minimum age for gun ownership will soon be decided. “We have to act preventively and not leave young people out in the cold,” explains Pürstl in another statement today.at.

More efficient use of police resources

The police themselves will also be taken into account in the planned restructuring. A reduction in party traffic in police stations on Sundays and public holidays is intended to increase patrol presence. Statistics show that on these days, on average, less than one person appears per inspection to complete administrative matters. Pürstl thinks that it makes more sense to deploy officers where they are needed - on the streets, with the citizens.

While the plans become more concrete, it remains to be seen how quickly and effectively these measures can be implemented. However, Pürstl is optimistic and sees close cooperation between the police and the education department as the key to security. At this critical time, it is important that the population is well informed and protected by the relevant authorities.