The government launches 10 measures to tighten access to firearms
After the massacre that took place on June 10, 2025, at BORG Dreierschützengasse school in Graz, which resulted in the death of 11 people, including 9 students and a teacher, the Austrian government announced a comprehensive package of measures aimed at preventing the recurrence of such incidents in the future and providing support to the victims' families.
The government, with the participation of the main parties (ÖVP, SPÖ, and Neos), agreed on a 10-point plan that will be presented next week in the Council of Ministers. This plan includes the establishment of a fund to compensate the families of the victims covering burial costs and psychological support, as well as special measures for the affected school.
Final year students will be granted facilities that allow them to complete their studies without the need to pass the oral exam, and security presence in schools will be enhanced until the end of the academic year. The number of psychologists in schools will be doubled, focusing on monitoring students at risk of isolation or violent behavior, and developing new prevention concepts by the Ministry of Education.
Among the most prominent measures is tightening gun control laws, where stricter conditions will be imposed for obtaining gun permits, especially for certain categories of people. Strict rules will also be enforced on the use of social media by children and teenagers, and at-risk teenagers will be closely monitored.
Data exchange between government authorities will also be improved to prevent individuals classified as dangerous from obtaining weapons, as happened with "Arthur A.", the perpetrator, who was rejected in the military psychological test but later obtained a gun permit. According to investigations, "Arthur A." was armed with a rifle, a pistol, a knife, and shooting equipment. He carried out his attack inside the school, killing in the hallways and classrooms, before committing suicide in one of the bathrooms. It was revealed that he legally purchased the two weapons in April and May and had been training in shooting since March.
During a search of his home, police found an inactive pipe bomb and documents indicating an unexecuted bombing plan. The ten victims were all Austrian citizens, except for a Polish student. The 11 injured, aged between 15 and 26, are from Austria, Romania, and Iran, and all are currently in stable condition. "Arthur A.", a 21-year-old of Armenian-Austrian descent, had dropped out of school without a diploma in 2022 and later suffered from chronic unemployment despite participating in government support programs, the latest being a course from the Employment Office (AMS) in 2024. Reports indicate that he had been experiencing increasing isolation and rising violent thoughts prior to committing the crime.