Austria’s Gun Laws Under Scrutiny After Graz School Shooting

Graz, June 10, 2025— Austria ranks among the highest in the EU for gun ownership, with approximately 30 firearms per 100 citizens, according to the 2021 Small Arms Survey. The shooter, identified by local media as a former student bullied at the school, legally acquired a pistol and a shotgun used in the attack on June 10, 2025, which killed seven students and one teacher across two classrooms.

Under current Austrian law, individuals over 21 can obtain firearms with a license, requiring a background check and a psychological evaluation, but critics argue these measures are insufficient. “Our gun laws are outdated and fail to address the risks of modern threats,” said Dr. Sabine Müller, a Vienna-based criminologist, in a statement to Der Standard.

The Graz tragedy has fueled comparisons to stricter EU neighbors like Germany, where gun ownership is half Austria’s rate, prompting calls for reform.

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Public and Political Push for Reform

In the wake of the shooting, Graz Mayor Elke Kahr and Styria Governor Mario Kunasek have vowed to advocate for tighter firearm regulations, with Chancellor Christian Stocker announcing a review of gun laws to be discussed at an emergency parliamentary session on June 15, 2025. Public protests in Graz and Vienna on June 10 demanded measures like mandatory waiting periods and stricter storage requirements, with over 2,000 attendees reported by ORF.

However, Austria’s powerful hunting and shooting lobbies, representing 150,000 members, argue that responsible gun owners should not be penalized. “The issue lies with enforcement, not the laws themselves,” said Hans Gruber, head of the Austrian Hunters’ Association. The debate is further complicated by Austria’s low firearm homicide rate—0.1 per 100,000 people—yet the Graz incident, one of the worst mass shootings in the nation’s history, has shifted public sentiment toward reform.

Did you know?
Austria’s gun ownership rate is the fourth-highest in the EU, behind Finland, Cyprus, and Sweden, with over 2.5 million registered firearms in a population of 9 million, according to a 2023 EU Firearms Directive report.

Learning from EU Neighbors’ Gun Control Models

The Graz shooting has prompted Austrian policymakers to look to other EU countries for inspiration on gun control. Sweden, with a similar hunting culture but stricter licensing processes, requires annual renewals and mandatory training, which reduces illegal firearm circulation, according to a 2024 EU Firearms Directive report. The Netherlands limits gun ownership to 3.9 per 100 citizens and conducts more rigorous psychological evaluations that involve interviews with family members.

Austrian Green Party leader Lena Schilling proposed adopting similar measures, including a national firearm registry, during a June 10 press conference. “We can preserve our traditions while prioritizing safety,” Schilling said. These models could guide Austria’s reforms; however, resistance from rural constituencies, which have the highest levels of gun ownership, may slow progress.

Addressing Underlying Factors Beyond Legislation

While gun law reform dominates the conversation, experts emphasize that addressing mental health and social issues is equally critical to preventing future tragedies. The Graz shooter’s history of bullying highlights gaps in Austria’s school support systems, with only 30% of secondary schools employing full-time counselors, per a 2024 Education Ministry report.

Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, visiting Graz on June 10, stressed a holistic approach, announcing €10 million for school safety and mental health programs in 2025. “Legislation alone won’t solve this—we need to support our youth,” Karner said. The integration of gun control with broader social reforms could set a precedent for tackling complex issues in Austria’s response to the Graz tragedy.