The Swedish government has just announced its intention to pursue a gun control law reform in the aftermath of the Örebro attack, in which 11 people died, including the attacker.
Under plans, the laws on suitability testing will be clarified and tightened, and further restrictions will be introduced to limit access to certain semi-automatic weapons.
A new framework will also be developed to report and monitor people who may be unfit to possess firearms.
The proposals will take forward a number of suggestions made in the “Effective Weapon Legislation” report developed by a special inquiry and published last year.
Five people, three women and two men, remain in hospital after the mass shooting in Örebro earlier this week, local authorities just said in an update.
Two of them remain in the Intensive Care Unit, it said.
The sixth person injured in the attack has now been discharged after being treated for minor injuries.
Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson, asked about proposals to tighten up the gun laws, said they had been under development for some time, and it “felt particularly appropriate in these terrible circumstances” to pursue them further.
He said changes were required to make sure that it is “the right people who have guns,” and this access is appropriately controlled.
Asked about the progress of the investigation into the Örebro shooting, he declined to offer any new information, saying that he had been careful not to draw any conclusions before the formal police process was completed.
Photo: Flags at half mast following attack in Örebro./Ninni Andersson/Government Offices of Sweden