Aarau shooting reopens debate over weapons bought under old law

The Aarau shooting has prompted renewed debate in Switzerland over whether owners of semi automatic weapons bought under previous rules should face stricter requirements, Swiss broadcaster SRF reports.

The alleged shooter fired more than 40 rounds from a Kalashnikov AK 74 at visitors to a rave party in Aarau. The 43 year old Swiss man had legally bought the weapon and three pistols in the canton of Jura about 20 years ago, when less strict rules were in force.

Today, the AK 74 would be classified as a prohibited weapon. Since Swiss gun laws were tightened seven years ago, semi automatic weapons can be bought only by gun collectors or sports shooters who have an exemption permit and provide the required evidence.

Weapons bought under the previous law are subject only to a registration requirement. Owners do not have to prove that they are sports shooters or collectors.

Independent Zurich Council of States member Daniel Jositsch said action may be needed. He supports potentially requiring owners of such weapons to provide proof that they are sports shooters or collectors, although he said it was unclear how many weapons would be affected.

The Greens and the Social Democratic Party also support tighter rules. Social Democratic Council of States member Franziska Roth called for semi automatic weapons to be banned without exceptions, which would mean confiscating weapons bought under the old rules.

Centre politician Reto Nause said the older weapons should not be targeted for now. He argued that the incident appeared to be the first involving such a weapon and that tighter rules would create significant bureaucracy with little benefit. The focus should instead be on the alleged shooter, who reportedly had psychological or medical problems, he said.

Swiss People’s Party Council of States member Werner Salzmann also rejected changes to the gun law. He said people around the alleged shooter should have recognised his psychological problems and informed police that he owned weapons.

Separately from the Aarau shooting, the Swiss Federal Council plans to tighten gun rules for people considered potentially dangerous. Justice Minister Beat Jans announced the plans this spring in connection with domestic violence. Authorities would be able to confiscate firearms from potentially dangerous people more quickly and would have to check automatically whether people named in danger reports owned weapons.

The Federal Council plans to make initial decisions early next year. It remains unclear whether such measures would have prevented the Aarau shooting. The Aargau public prosecutor’s office said it did not yet know whether the alleged shooter had been receiving treatment for a mental illness or whether there had been any warning signs of a potential danger.