The Swedish government has announced plans to introduce legislation aimed at modifying gun laws and limiting access to semi-automatic firearms following the nation’s deadliest mass shooting earlier this week.
This decision follows a tragic incident where a gunman claimed the lives of ten individuals before taking his own life at an educational facility in Örebro, located west of Stockholm.
“Certain types of firearms are so perilous that their possession by civilians should be an exception,” the government stated in an official communication.
The government has collaborated with the Sweden Democrats, who support the current administration, to propose changes to Swedish gun regulations, focusing specifically on limiting access to semi-automatic weapons.
Authorities have reported recovering several long-barreled guns alongside the suspected shooter when he was found deceased at the location, as well as ten empty magazines at the scene.
While police have not disclosed the exact varieties of firearms recovered, they confirmed that he possessed licenses for four weapons, three of which were located beside him.
Mourners laid flowers and candles at the memorial site outside the educational center in Örebro.
The government has emphasized the intention to specifically limit the availability of semi-automatic firearms, such as the AR-15.
“The AR-15 exemplifies a firearm capable of accommodating large magazines and inflicting substantial harm in a brief period,” the government noted.
They pointed out that the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency had authorized the use of this weapon for hunting in 2023, stating that the objective of the new proposal is to revert to the prior regulations.
Law enforcement agencies have indicated they are still investigating the motive behind the shooting.
Anna Bergqvist, who is leading the inquiry, mentioned yesterday that the deceased included “multiple nationalities, diverse genders, and various ages.”
TV4, a broadcasting network, shared footage filmed by a student taking shelter in a bathroom, capturing gunfire outside and a voice shouting, “You will leave Europe!”
The Syrian embassy reported that at least two of the victims were of Syrian nationality, while the Bosnian foreign ministry confirmed a Bosnian woman was among the deceased, as per communications from family members who reached out to their embassy.
Some victims remained unidentified.
Swedish media outlets have identified the suspect as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, though official confirmation is still pending.
Reports from Swedish media portray the suspect as a local resident living in isolation and dealing with psychological issues.
Read more: Sweden mourns victims of country’s deadliest gun attack. Swedish police report ‘multiple nationalities’ among casualties in mass shooting.
