In Orebro, Sweden, the right-wing government announced plans to tighten gun regulations in response to the country’s deadliest mass shooting at an adult education center. The perpetrator, believed to be Rickard Andersson, used his own licensed rifles to kill ten individuals before taking his own life. The government, in collaboration with far-right supporters in parliament, aims to enhance the vetting process for obtaining licenses, particularly for semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15. Additionally, efforts will be made to improve information sharing between law enforcement and health authorities to prevent individuals with medical issues from owning firearms.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized the importance of ensuring that only suitable individuals have access to guns in Sweden. While the main opposition party, the Social Democrats, supported the government’s actions, they urged for more comprehensive vetting procedures and controls. Questions have also been raised regarding school security in Sweden, prompting discussions on the installation of surveillance cameras in educational institutions.
Authorities revealed that the suspect possessed permits for four rifles, with three weapons discovered near his body following the attack. Sweden’s gun ownership rate, while relatively high in Europe, remains significantly lower than that of the United States. As the nation grieves over this tragic event, investigations continue to determine the motive behind the shooting.
Information was provided by the local authority. Reporting was done by Johan Ahlander in Orebro, Simon Johnson and Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm, Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche in Oslo, Janis Laizans in Latvia, and Essi Lehto in Helsinki. The writing was conducted by Niklas Pollard, with editing by Philippa Fletcher.
