Since then, there has been an improved exchange of information between authorities. With the second part of the legislative amendment, which comes into force on April 28, the rules will be tightened once again. "The clear goal of this amendment is more security," said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) in a statement on Thursday.

Stricter Examinations and Mandatory Exploration Interview

From the effective date, stricter examinations of the reliability under gun law and the improvement of the quality of the clinical-psychological report will apply. Additionally, a mandatory exploration interview and new testing procedures have been announced. The minimum age for purchasing firearms in categories A and B will be raised from 21 to 25 years, and for category C from 18 to 21 years. Exceptions will continue to apply if weapons are needed for professional purposes. Furthermore, the police will be granted extended control powers in the vicinity of schools and kindergartens.

"Necessary tightenings required extensive technical preparations, including registration and recording in the central weapons register. The experts of the Ministry of the Interior have therefore worked intensively on the implementation in recent months and have now brought it to completion," said Karner. "With the new regulation, we are not closing the door to legal gun ownership, but only giving the key to those who are truly trustworthy," added State Secretary Jörg Leichtfried (SPÖ).

The tightening of the gun law occurred after the rampage in June 2025 at a Graz high school, where ten people were killed. The shooter had legally possessed the weapons used, although psychological abnormalities had been attested to him during the assessment.

(APA/Red)

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