Austria to Toughen Gun Laws After Deadliest School Attack

Austria's Chancellor Christian Stocker announced Monday that the country will tighten its gun laws following a school shooting last week that killed nine students and a teacher. The shooting sparked a debate about Austria's relatively liberal gun laws, which contrast with those in neighboring Germany and many other European countries. The new measures are expected to include stricter eligibility requirements for gun ownership, restrictions for certain risk groups, and improved data-sharing between authorities. Austria ranks 12th in the world in terms of holding civilian firearms, with 30 firearms per 100 residents.

Key Takeaways:

• Austria will tighten its gun laws in response to the deadliest school attack in the country's post-war history.
• The new measures will include stricter eligibility requirements for gun ownership, restrictions for certain risk groups, and improved data-sharing between authorities.
• The Cabinet is expected to pass the new laws later this week, although details have not been provided.
• The current gun laws in Austria allow civilians to purchase rifles and shotguns at the age of 18 without a permit, and police only need to check if there's no weapons ban on the buyer.
• Gun dealers will be required to add the purchased weapon to the central weapons register.
• The suspect in last week's school shooting had a gun ownership card, but not a firearm pass, which would have required a separate permit.
• The government will also create a compensation fund to help affected families with funeral costs, psychological care, and other support services.
• All schools in Austria will receive more long-term psychological support for students, and police will increase their presence in front of schools until the end of the school year.

Statistics:

• Austria ranks 12th in the world in terms of holding civilian firearms, with 30 firearms per 100 residents (Small Arms Survey).
• The United States tops the ranking with 120 firearms per 100 residents, compared to Austria's 30.
• Germany ranks 23rd in terms of civilian firearms, with 19 firearms per 100 residents (Small Arms Survey).
• In Austria, some weapons, such as rifles and shotguns, can be purchased at the age of 18 without a permit.
• The suspect in last week's school shooting was 21 years old and used a shotgun and a pistol that he owned legally.

Sources:

• The Associated Press, copyright 2025, all rights reserved.
• The Small Arms Survey.