Following a devastating school shooting in Graz, Austria is moving swiftly to significantly tighten its gun laws. The tragedy, described as the country’s deadliest post-war attack, prompted Chancellor Christian Stocker to announce comprehensive reforms aimed at making access to firearms more responsible and restricting ownership for individuals deemed a risk.
The fatal incident occurred on June 11, 2025, at the BORG Dreierschützengasse high school in Graz. A 21-year-old former student opened fire, killing nine students and one teacher before taking his own life. The victims included six girls and three boys aged 14 to 17. Eleven other people were wounded in the attack. The shooting sent shockwaves across the Alpine nation and ignited a national debate over its relatively liberal gun regulations compared to many other European Union countries.
Investigators revealed that the assailant legally owned both the shotgun and the pistol used in the attack. Under current Austrian law, certain firearms like manually reloaded shotguns can be purchased without a permit by individuals aged 18, requiring only a check against weapons bans and central registration. More controlled weapons, such as semi-automatic firearms, demand a gun ownership card and a firearms pass, the latter of which reportedly the attacker did not possess for the handgun he used.
Key Measures Proposed to Toughen Gun Control
Speaking in Parliament in Vienna, Chancellor Stocker emphasized that “access to weapons must be regulated even more responsibly in Austria.” The government’s planned reforms, expected to be approved by the Cabinet soon, include several key changes designed to enhance safety and prevent future tragedies:
Raised Minimum Age: The minimum age to obtain a gun permit, currently 21 for certain weapon types like pistols, is set to be increased to 25 years old.
Stricter Psychological Testing: The psychological evaluation required for gun permits will be made more stringent to better assess an applicant’s suitability for firearm ownership.
Extended Waiting Period: A mandatory “cooling-off phase” for all weapon purchases will be extended to four weeks, a significant increase from the previous three-day waiting period for some firearms.
Permit Expiry: Newly issued gun permits will have an expiry date, requiring renewal every eight years.
Improved Data Sharing: Measures will be implemented to ensure relevant information, such as psychological test failures during military service, is shared with authorities evaluating gun permit applications. The goal is to automatically trigger consequences under firearms law whenever an individual risk is identified.
The Chancellor stated that the government is committed to drawing the necessary conclusions from the tragedy and will not return to “business as usual.”
Beyond Gun Legislation: Supporting Victims and Schools
In addition to tightening firearm access, the government announced further measures to address the aftermath of the shooting and enhance school safety:
Increased Psychological Support: Long-term psychological support services will be expanded for students across all schools in the country.
Heightened School Security: Police presence in front of schools will be increased until the end of the current school year.
Compensation Fund: A government fund will be created to provide swift and unbureaucratic financial assistance to affected families, helping cover funeral costs, psychological care, and other urgent support needs.
While Austria has a tradition of gun ownership often linked to hunting in its vast forests (carrying for self-defense is less common), the country ranks 12th globally for civilian firearms per capita, with about 30 firearms per 100 residents. This is significantly lower than the United States but higher than neighboring Germany. The proposed changes represent a notable shift aimed at balancing this tradition with the urgent need for enhanced public safety following the horrific events in Graz.
