School killings leave stunned Austria and France searching for answers

Two unrelated incidents

A shooting at a school in Austria has left multiple people dead and others injured. Coincidentally, a very similar tragedy occurred in France just a few days ago, causing the entire continent to question how to prevent such terrible events.

Police investigate motives

The Austrian police released a statement saying that the shooter, a 16-year-old male, was known to the authorities and had been arrested a few weeks ago for attempting to buy firearms illegally. The French investigation is still ongoing, but no such leads have been presented in the Austrian case, as the shooter is in custody.

The rise of gun violence

While gun violence in Western Europe is relatively rare compared to the US, these shocking incidents have shed light on the ease with which teenagers can gain access to firearms and carry out deadly attacks.

A call for change

The severity of these events may catalyze reformative action on gun control and mental health support. The French shooting sparked France24's coverage on the need for "stricter gun control laws", while the Austrian incident urges us to "review access to lethal weapons", especially for minors, as children cannot commit such heinous acts with firearms without external help.