Austria will tighten its gun laws following the June 10 school shooting in which a 21-year-old killed nine students and a teacher, Chancellor Christian Stocker announced on June 16.
The attacker, who legally owned the shotgun and pistol used, reignited debate over Austria’s relatively lenient gun laws. “Access to weapons must be regulated even more responsibly in Austria,” said Stocker, outlining plans for stricter eligibility rules, new restrictions for high-risk groups, and improved data-sharing among authorities.
The Cabinet is expected to approve the measures this week. Stocker also said raising the minimum age for gun ownership is under consideration.
As Austria moves to reform its firearm laws, the broader issue of gun violence continues to weigh heavily on the global conscience. So far in 2025, the US has experienced 193 mass shootings. As the world mourns the lives unnecessarily lost, now is an important time to look both inward and outward, examining the regulations of other countries and how they impact the safety of their populations. Read on to explore gun policies, mass shootings, and their relationships in countries around the world.