Sweden toughens gun laws after school shooting
Published: 06:02 PM,Feb 07,2025 | EDITED : 10:02 PM,Feb 07,2025
Candles, flowers and a Swedish flag are placed near the Risbergska school, following a deadly shooting attack at the adult education centre, in Orebro, Sweden. — Reuters
OREBRO: Sweden's right-wing government said on Friday it would seek to tighten gun laws in the wake of the country's deadliest mass shooting at an adult education centre where the attacker appeared to have used several of his own licensed rifles. Ten people were shot dead at the Campus Risbergska school in Orebro on Tuesday, before the man believed to be the perpetrator — identified by a source and Swedish media as Rickard Andersson, a 35-year-old Swedish recluse — turned a weapon on himself.
Police have not disclosed the names of the dead and injured but have said they hope to conclude the identification process on Friday. Among the victims were several Christians who fled persecution in Syria. Police say they have found no evidence of an ideological motive so far.
The government has agreed with its far-right backers in parliament to tighten up the vetting process for people applying for gun licences and to clamp down on some semi-automatic weapons.
It said the AR-15, an assault rifle based on a military design that has been used in many mass shootings in the United States, was the kind of gun it wanted banned. 'In light of the horrible shooting in Orebro earlier this week we believe that the right balance is to roll back the regulation and prohibit that kind of weapon,' Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said.
He said it was not clear yet what kind of guns had been used in the attack in Orebro and banning AR-15 weapons would be a 'preventative measure'. 'We know that kind of weapon, with some changes, can become very dangerous and also that it has been used in that kind of shooting in other countries,' he said.
AR-15 rifles have been permitted for hunting since 2023 and Strommer said around 3,500 have been licenced since then.
The government said it also wanted to strengthen information sharing between the police and the National Board of Health and Welfare regarding individuals who should not be allowed to own guns for medical reasons.
'We have to ensure that only the right people have guns in Sweden,' Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said to reporters while on a visit to Latvia.
Sweden's main opposition party, the Social Democrats, welcomed the move but called for more far-reaching vetting and controls. 'There is a before and after February 4,' Social Democrat lawmaker Theresa Carvalho said in a press conference.
Police have not specified what kind of weapons were used in the attack, saying only that three rifles licensed to the suspected killer were found near his dead body. Local media have reported he had a hunting license.
The attack has also raised questions about whether security at Sweden's schools needs to be better. Unlike in many other countries, schools are generally seen as semi-public spaces and rarely have any controls on who can go in and out. — Reuters
Police have not disclosed the names of the dead and injured but have said they hope to conclude the identification process on Friday. Among the victims were several Christians who fled persecution in Syria. Police say they have found no evidence of an ideological motive so far.
The government has agreed with its far-right backers in parliament to tighten up the vetting process for people applying for gun licences and to clamp down on some semi-automatic weapons.
It said the AR-15, an assault rifle based on a military design that has been used in many mass shootings in the United States, was the kind of gun it wanted banned. 'In light of the horrible shooting in Orebro earlier this week we believe that the right balance is to roll back the regulation and prohibit that kind of weapon,' Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer said.
He said it was not clear yet what kind of guns had been used in the attack in Orebro and banning AR-15 weapons would be a 'preventative measure'. 'We know that kind of weapon, with some changes, can become very dangerous and also that it has been used in that kind of shooting in other countries,' he said.
AR-15 rifles have been permitted for hunting since 2023 and Strommer said around 3,500 have been licenced since then.
The government said it also wanted to strengthen information sharing between the police and the National Board of Health and Welfare regarding individuals who should not be allowed to own guns for medical reasons.
'We have to ensure that only the right people have guns in Sweden,' Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said to reporters while on a visit to Latvia.
Sweden's main opposition party, the Social Democrats, welcomed the move but called for more far-reaching vetting and controls. 'There is a before and after February 4,' Social Democrat lawmaker Theresa Carvalho said in a press conference.
Police have not specified what kind of weapons were used in the attack, saying only that three rifles licensed to the suspected killer were found near his dead body. Local media have reported he had a hunting license.
The attack has also raised questions about whether security at Sweden's schools needs to be better. Unlike in many other countries, schools are generally seen as semi-public spaces and rarely have any controls on who can go in and out. — Reuters