Sweden to re-instate restrictions on rifles, previously lifted for hunting purposes

Sweden’s government has revealed plans to tighten its gun laws, including limiting access to semi-automatic weapons after several had been lifted in 2023, in the wake of last week's mass shooting.

“The horrific act of violence in Örebro raises several key questions about gun legislation,” the center-right coalition government, which depends on support from the far-right Sweden Democrats, stated. In addition to stricter regulations, officials aim to enhance the process of reporting individuals deemed “medically unsuitable” to possess firearms, Caliber.Az reports citing Reuters.

A gunman killed 10 people at an education center in Örebro, west of Stockholm, on February 4. Authorities have not disclosed the type of weapons that were used in the country's deadliest attack but confirmed that he had a license for four firearms, three of which were found near him after the perpetrator killed himself.

“We have to ensure that only the right people have guns in Sweden,” said Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson while visiting Latvia.

Sweden has a large hunting community, with hundreds of thousands of hunters eligible to apply for semi-automatic weapon licenses. In August 2023, the environmental protection agency lifted restrictions on military-style models, allowing firearms such as the AR-15 to be used for hunting.

According to British media, the Swedish government informed the public on February 7 of its intention to restore the pre-2023 restrictions and formulate a strategy to confiscate military-style firearms. “The AR-15 is an example of a weapon that is compatible with large magazines and can cause a lot of damage in a short time,” officials stated.

A recent government report highlighted that several factors meant to be considered when assessing a person’s eligibility for a weapons permit were not explicitly outlined in firearms regulations. The government now plans to ensure these criteria are clearly defined in law.

By Nazrin Sadigova