The vicious school shooting in BORG Gymnasium in Graz on 10 June 2025 which claimed 11 lives, has undoubtedly cast a suffocating shadow over Austria’s peaceful, tranquil, and safe image. When the headlines of the world’s media point to the territory of this small, politically neutral country, not because of its music and art, or landscape and hidden champions, but terrorist incidents, how big is the challenge it is facing?
One can discuss about the campus culture in the Austrian secondary schools, where the relationship between the pupils as well as that of between pupils and teachers has always been an issue, with keywords like “Streber” and “Clique”. Reading Friedrich Torberg’s “Der Schüle Gerber” might offer a glimpse into the “tradition”.
In the past, however, tragic killings in Austria were mostly directed against family members or against the killer himself/herself. Suicides far outnumbered homicides. Nowadays, Austria seems to be kicking along with the times.
Just a few days before the crime, the 21-year-old former pupil of the school bought one of the weapons – completely legally, and quite easily. The breaking news is that it was found out later that he was tested ineligible by the federal army due to psychological problem. The key information is not allowed to be released to the civil society, according to the law in Austria.
Austria has one of the laxest gun laws in Europe, though. Officially, more than 1.5 million weapons are registered in private ownership in Austria – Any adult can acquire certain firearms after a simple test. This number is still rising rapidly. The BORG case put the federal government under pressure about how to moderate the related law or to ban private gun ownership.
More urgently to notice is, however, the overwhelming psychological problems among youngsters these days. They add additional, not to be underestimated challenges to world peace. The government should look more intensely into the mental health issues and put more efforts to the related measure, resources, and possible solutions.
May the deceased rest in peace and the living be strong!
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