Animal Protection Austria has generally welcomed the planned reform of gun laws, but has criticized exceptions for hobby hunters.
September 5, 2025, 4:34 p.m., Editorial staff of IG Wild at Wild
The association positively assesses the proposed stricter measures, such as higher age limits, mandatory psychological assessments, and longer waiting periods for firearm purchases, as an important step towards violence prevention.
However, President Madeleine Petrovic stated that it was incomprehensible that hobby hunters were exempt from regular psychological aptitude tests. Cases such as the triple murder in Annaberg in 2023 demonstrated that there is also a risk of gun violence in the hunting environment.
Tierschutz Austria also points to scientific studies that suggest a connection between animal cruelty and subsequent violence against humans. Criminological and psychological studies show that those who intentionally torture animals hunting , are significantly more likely to engage in violent behavior toward humans – particularly in the areas of domestic violence, child abuse, and grievous bodily harm. The organization therefore calls for convictions for animal cruelty to also result in preventive weapons bans. Furthermore, such offenses should be mandatorily reported to weapons authorities and recorded in a central risk database.
Anyone who mistreats animals poses a risk to society. The protection of humans and animals must be considered together – and consistently protected by law, says Petrovic.
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