Austria reacts: After the rampage – gun laws should be tightened!

Austria reacts: After the rampage – gun laws should be tightened!

After the devastating school shooting in Graz on Tuesday, in which a 21-year-old Austrian shot nine teenagers and a teacher with a legally purchased pistol and a sawed-off shotgun, the Austrian government is moving toward a comprehensive overhaul of gun laws. In an interview with ORF radio, Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) announced that various measures were being considered to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This includes, among other things, raising the minimum age for gun buyers and tightening the psychological tests for issuing a gun ownership card. A corresponding package of measures should be decided on next week Radio Hochstift.

What is particularly alarming is that the perpetrator, despite his psychological instability, legally purchased both the pistol he used in the rampage and the shotgun. A psychological report was required for the Glock 19 pistol, which the perpetrator successfully passed in March and received his firearm ownership card in May. However, critics criticize the efficiency of the current system, as the gunman was still able to purchase weapons after his negative experiences during the 2021 military enlistment. He came up negative in tests at a shooting club, which only increases questions about the thoroughness of the psychological assessments. As per research by Pulse 24 As can be seen, it is currently unclear whether the psychologists who issued the reports were also asked about the given standards.

The role of psychological reports

The psychological reports on the allocation of weapons must be prepared by certified psychologists in order to check the so-called “weapon reliability”. The tests usually last between one and two hours and include various personality tests as well as a personal interview, although this is not mandatory. In many cases there are even reports of group testing, which is not legally excluded. MWPP emphasizes that evidence of mental illness or criminal convictions usually lead to a negative report. In addition, more stringent requirements must be met for follow-up tests. Critics demand that psychological reports should be repeated every five years to take into account any changes in people's psychological stability.

Despite the previous regulations, the discussion about gun rights in Austria remains highly topical in view of recent events. The Greens have already called for a review of existing tests to ensure future reports are made more rigorous and comprehensive. It is also emphasized that social isolation or bullying should not automatically lead to exclusion from a positive report. It remains to be seen which measures will ultimately be decided and whether they can actually lead to an improvement in security.