Two shocking attacks within two hours of each other, in France and Austria, have left parents and governments reeling and at a loss how to protect school students from random, deadly violence. At about 08:15 on Tuesday,

Austria ranks among the highest in Europe for civilian gun ownership, with approximately 30 guns per 100 residents, according to the 2017 Small Arms Survey, a Geneva research group. While countries such as Cyprus, Finland, and Iceland report slightly higher rates, Austria remains an outlier in the continent.

A deadly school shooting in Graz has pushed Austria’s gun laws— and its quiet gun culture — into the national spotlight.

The deadliest school shooting in the nation’s recent history has prompted some gun enthusiasts to worry about the prospect of stricter ownership laws.

On 10 June 2025, a 22-year-old former student shot and killed eight people at a school in Graz, Austria, before taking his own life. The attack left over two dozen injured and has reignited national debate over gun laws and school safety.

This week’s Inside Austria explores how Austria is grappling with the school shooting in Graz — from calls for reform to far-right attempts to twist the narrative. Plus, what else made headlines across the country.