Austria after the Graz shooting: gun laws are being drastically tightened!

Austria after the Graz shooting: gun laws are being drastically tightened!

The tragedy at a school in Graz, in which ten people died on June 18, 2025, plunged Austria into a debate about gun laws. The rampage, carried out by a 21-year-old Austrian, marks a turning point in the country's previous gun culture. After the incident, the Austrian government decided to tighten gun laws to better cover potentially dangerous situations and make access to weapons more difficult. This includes, among other things, an increase in the minimum age for purchasing pistols and revolvers from 21 to 25 years. The minimum age for shotguns remains 18, although 18- to 25-year-olds must submit a mandatory psychological report.

Additionally, the cool-down period when purchasing a weapon for the first time will be extended from three days to four weeks to allow for more thorough consideration. The government also plans to intensify the exchange of data between the armed forces and weapons authorities in order to identify potential risks at an early stage. The gunman had acquired his weapons legally, although his physical examination revealed psychological abnormalities that must be reassessed after the incident, such as FAZ reported.

Psychological tests as a new hurdle

The tragedy has also reignited debate about the effectiveness of psychological testing. As the investigation shows, the gunman passed a psychological test in March that he needed to purchase a Glock 19 pistol. No test was required for a shotgun, raising questions about the consistency of the criteria. The tests planned are intended to determine the person's so-called “weapons reliability”. The necessary anamnesis and discussions with the expert are not regulated by law, but are practiced by reputable experts. Still, there are concerns about the measurability of psychological insights and the possibility of mass testing that may not have the desired effect, such as this Pulse24 reported.

• Neue Anforderungen für den Waffenbesitz:
  • Mindestalter für Pistolen und Revolver: 25 Jahre
  • Mindestalter für Schrotflinten: 18 Jahre mit psychologischem Gutachten für 18- bis 25-Jährige
  • Abkühlphase für Waffenerwerb: vier Wochen
• Erhöhte Polizeipräsenz vor Schulen bis Ende Juni.
• Entschädigungsfonds von 20 Millionen Euro für die Opfer und Hinterbliebenen.

A look into the past and an uncertain future

The shooting spree in Graz not only left its mark on the victims and their relatives, but also sharpened the focus on the gun culture in Austria. Despite the country's "relatively liberal" gun attitudes, the incident shows that urgent action is needed. The idea of ​​security is being put back on the agenda, especially because of the shock waves that such events trigger. After all, around 1.5 million weapons are registered to around 370,000 people in Austria, which raises the density of weapons within the EU to a high level courier notes.

These changes should be viewed not only as a response to the shooting, but also as part of a larger plan to increase safety in schools and other public spaces. The government has already announced that it plans to double the number of school psychologists in the coming years. Hoping that early detection and intervention, coupled with strict gun controls, can prevent such a disaster in the future.