Sweden’s right-wing government announced on Friday plans to tighten gun laws in response to the country’s deadliest mass shooting, which occurred at an adult education center where the attacker reportedly used several licensed rifles.
On Tuesday, ten people were shot dead at the Campus Risbergska school in Orebro before the shooter, identified by Reuters sources and Swedish media as Rickard Andersson, a 35-year-old recluse, turned the gun on himself.
Police confirmed that the suspected shooter was a 35-year-old man, and while they have identified all victims, no names have been released. The victims—seven women and four men aged between 28 and 68—included several Christians who had fled persecution in Syria. Authorities have not yet found any evidence of an ideological motive for the attack.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed that the incident has instilled fear and a sense of vulnerability among many individuals with immigrant backgrounds in Sweden, urging the community to unite in solidarity. “My thoughts are with the relatives who have now received the call that is the worst one can get. To you, I want to say: you are not alone. We stand beside you,” he stated in a social media post.
The government has reached an agreement with its far-right parliamentary allies to enhance the vetting process for gun license applicants and to impose restrictions on certain semi-automatic weapons. Specifically, they are looking to ban the AR-15, an assault rifle associated with numerous mass shootings in the United States.
“In light of the horrible shooting in Orebro earlier this week, we believe that the right balance is to roll back the regulations and prohibit that kind of weapon,” Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer told Reuters.
While it remains unclear what specific firearms were used in the Orebro attack, Strommer emphasized that banning AR-15s would serve as a preventative measure. He noted that integrating changes can make such weapons extremely dangerous, as they have been involved in similar incidents in other countries. AR-15 rifles have been legal for hunting in Sweden since 2023, with approximately 3,500 licensed since then.
The main opposition party, the Social Democrats, supported the proposed changes but called for more comprehensive vetting and control processes. “There is a before and after February 4,” Social Democrat lawmaker Theresa Carvalho remarked during a press conference.
Though police have not disclosed the types of weapons utilized in the attack, they confirmed three rifles licensed to the suspect were found nearby. Local media suggested he had a hunting license.
The incident has sparked discussions about enhancing security measures at Swedish schools. Unlike in many other nations, schools in Sweden are generally considered semi-public spaces and often lack control over who can access them. Justice Minister Strommer mentioned that the government is looking to expedite legislation that would simplify the installation of surveillance cameras in schools.
While Sweden features high levels of legal gun ownership compared to other European countries, it remains much lower than in the United States. Most legal firearms are held for hunting purposes, but a surge in gang-related crime has raised concerns about illegal handguns.
The Small Arms Survey, a Swiss-based research group, reported in 2017 that about 2.3 million guns are held by civilians in Sweden, equating to approximately 23 guns per 100 people, compared to 120 in the United States and 4.6 in the United Kingdom.
In the wake of this tragedy, Sweden is mourning, and police continue to investigate the motive behind the attack, including the possibility that the shooter was a former student at the school.
Credit: CNN
