More weapons are hoarded in Austrian households than in all neighboring countries. There are 30 per 100 inhabitants. A similar number is only found in Switzerland (28), everywhere else significantly fewer, as discovered by the research project "Small Arms Survey." In Germany, with 20, it is a third less, in Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, Czech Republic, and Hungary only about half as many. No wonder: Here, it is relatively easy to obtain a pistol or another firearm.
Not much will change about that. Even after the rampage in Graz, the government does not dare to proceed with a comprehensive ban. And until changes like raising the minimum age for acquiring particularly dangerous weapons from 21 to 25 come into effect, many Austrians will have armed themselves: dealers are currently being stormed.
Apparently, not a few people believe they can improve their security situation if they are armed. However, this is a misconception: Where there are many weapons, more happens, overall insecurity increases. This is particularly evident in the USA.
There are several reasons for this. First: One must be able to handle a weapon. This requires practice. Second: In an emergency, weapon possession can contribute to an escalation, leading to shots being fired. Third: The majority of weapon owners store their weapons as they should. However, this means that they usually do not have them on hand and therefore could not defend themselves in case of an emergency. In this respect, the benefit is limited. Apart from that, there are always people who do not store weapons responsibly, but negligently, leading to accidents.
The rampage in Graz could very likely not have been prevented even with stricter rules. However, it is a reminder that weapons should have no place in our society. And that a sign would be appropriate: a comprehensive weapons ban.
Austria is a very safe country, especially since the state order, particularly maintained by the police, functions well. The monopoly on violence should also lie with them. It is not necessary for citizens to believe they must ensure law and order themselves, like in the Wild West.
The FPÖ argues against this, claiming Austria is a free country where citizens should be able to decide whether to arm themselves or not. However, the freedom of the individual ends where it becomes a problem for others. This is exactly the case here: If many people own a weapon, including, for example, the, let's say, choleric neighbor who likes to drink, it is not only unsettling for oneself but poses a threat that rightly causes fear.
Johannes Huber runs the blog dieSubstanz.at – Analyses and Backgrounds on Politics
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.