Coalition Advocates for Stricter Gun Laws

After the Council of Ministers and before the session in the National Council, where these are to be decided, the club chairmen of SPÖ and NEOS as well as Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) addressed the press. "It is the largest amendment to the gun law in 30 years," emphasized Karner. This became a political issue after the tragic rampage at a school in Graz.

SPÖ Demands Roll-Call Vote on Stricter Gun Laws

With the announcement, the cooling-off period extended from three days to four weeks and the better data exchange between authorities will come into effect. The rest of the package will follow in the first or second quarter, including psychological aptitude tests and a higher minimum age. Hunters are exempt, Karner emphasized once again. A law to protect critical infrastructure will also be decided today.

In addition to the coalition, the Greens will also vote for the stricter gun laws, but not the FPÖ, for which the Blues were heavily criticized today. "When you realize, as after the terrible attack in Styria, that it is easier for an 18-year-old to get a weapon than for a ten-year-old to get a bicycle license, then you have to react," said the red club chairman Philip Kucher. The FPÖ emphasized that the planned legal changes are a restriction of freedom. For Kucher, "extremely stupid arguments that are simply not true." Freedom also means that "arguments are resolved at the regulars' table and not in the hospital."

However, the FPÖ is not unanimously against it, the coalition saw itself supported by the Styrian governor Mario Kunasek. "Unfortunately, reason never prevails in the FPÖ, but rather the radical Kickl course," criticized Kucher, who therefore demands a roll-call vote.

Also ORF Amendment in the National Council

The second major legislative decision in today's National Council session is an ORF amendment. "This will disempower the governors," said NEOS club leader Yannick Shetty. Specifically, the clause granting the states a right to be heard in the appointment of ORF regional directors will be removed. The criticism from the Freedom Party shows: "The FPÖ never wanted the depoliticization of the ORF, the FPÖ wanted to make ORF into FPÖTV."

For companies, the amount of the ORF fee will in the future be calculated solely based on the wage sum, regardless of how many business locations a company has. "With this measure, we are relieving around 20,000 smaller businesses," said Shetty.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.