The Future of Swedish Gun Control
by Miruna-Antonia Aniculăesei, Read: 2 minutes 27 seconds
"Being confined to a classroom with fear for your own life is a nightmare that no one should have to experience" were the words of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson after the tragedy that struck the country on the 4th of February 2025. In the inland city of Örebro, at the Risbergska Campus, where a school for adult education is located, Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting to date occurred, resulting in 10 dead and at least 6 injured. This unfortunate event represented a wake-up call for Swedish authorities, who are now planning on tightening gun control.
The tragic incident in Örebro came as a shock to both civilians and the police force. The Risbergska adult school offers vocational training and programmes for those willing to join the workforce, most of which are targeted towards immigrants. As such, the victims of said attack were between the ages of 28 and 68, most of whom were not of Swedish origin. The perpetrator, who later was identified as Rickard Andersson, a 35-year-old local, is believed to have also been a student at said school, reportedly attending classes for individuals with high-functioning autism. At the time of the attack, he had been unemployed for ten years, and in the possession of four weapon licences. While the chief of the local police, Roberto Eid Forest, did not disclose the nature of Andersson’s motives, journalists speculate that, considering the ethnicity of most of the victims, they were inspired by his ideological orientation.
Rickard Andersson - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/crime/rickard-andersson-sweden-shooting-suspect-motive-school-b2693895.html
The Örebro attack ended with the gunman taking his own life, with three of his weapons and unused ammunition being found next to his body. The tragedy plunged the country into mourning, with the heartfelt statement issued by the king echoing the grieving of the victims’ families and friends. In Örebro, locals expressed their sorrow and support by ornating one of the streets close to the school with candles and flowers.
In the wake of the shock caused by this tragedy, the haunting mass shooting might become a turning point in the history of Sweden. The Scandinavian state is one of the countries with the highest number of gun owners in the EU, namely around 2.3 million. Indeed, even the process of obtaining a firearm licence is not necessarily challenging: the only requirements are not having a criminal record, being over 18 years old and justifying the purpose of said firearm. Spurned also by the country’s history of gang violence, the government is planning on reimposing certain restrictions and seizing military-style firearms, such as the AR-15. Furthermore, the current coalition is also pushing for a more complex licensing process, including medical factors and granting the police the ability to seize weapons. Even the main opposition, the Social Democrats, have welcomed these proposals. However, they also called for more control, the reviewing of the existing licences and better security for educational institutions. This shows, a certain progress towards tighter regulation of firearms is starting, regardless of party affiliation, as the effects of an event such as this one transcend party boundaries.
AR-15
Taking everything into account, it is unclear how soon Sweden will make more efforts towards ensuring the safety of its own citizens. It is disheartening to see how many lives can be claimed before regulations are put in place, either by gang warfare or isolated civilian attacks. At the same time, the government now has to navigate a slippery slope, balancing between maintaining public safety and satisfaction while remaining considerate of the numerous Swedish gun owners.
