Shotguns have 'virtually sold out' in Austria as citizens rush to buy arms

[lostinblue 1,989]

Shotguns have 'virtually sold out' in Austria as citizens rush to buy arms amid fears of a massive influx of migrants, dealers claim

• There are now thought to be estimated 900,000 firearms in Austrian homes
• Police say around 70,000 guns have been sold this year alone in Austria
• Dealers say shotguns have almost sold out because you don't need permit
• Women are driving the sales rush as fears grow amid influx of refugees

Weapon sales are soaring in Austria as citizens of the small Alpine nation become paranoid over the numbers of refugees crowding into their country.

In a country of 8.5 million people, there are now an estimated 900,000 firearms in homes.

And gun dealers report that it is women driving the sales rush. This year alone, police say 70,000 guns have been sold.

'Virtually all shotguns are currently sold out, because you need no permit for them', said Thomas Ortner, spokesman for an arms dealer in Upper Austria.

For every other type of weapon, a licence is required.

Licence courses, in which applicants must demonstrate knowledge of firearms, used to take place every five weeks but they are now held weekly because of spiking demand.

In cities like Salzburg, a line of people outside the necessary government office to get the paperwork to buy a gun is now an everyday sight.

Broadcasters and local media say the numbers of refugees - coupled with a fear of break-ins as a result - is fuelling the arms race.

'Because of the social change, people want to protect themselves,' one arms dealer told the broadcaster oe.24. He said 'many women' were among his customers.

The flood of 'refugees' into Austria is continuing without interruption.

The Hungarian route has become less active, and traffic is now flowing at a rapid rate through Slovenia instead.

Czech Independent TV also reported on the arms upsurge. As of Monday most rifles in the country are out of stock.

The daily paper Heute reported recently: 'The cash registers are currently ringing loud at local gun dealers.

'Figures of the Ministry of the Interior prove it: more and more people are buying guns and rifles.'

A Central weapon register was introduced in June 2014 to record all legal firearm sales.

This year over 14,000 new weapons have been purchased.

Dealers reported that women are also driving up sales of pepper spray because of their fears for personal security in the midst of the great migration of refugees heading to Germany.

'We cannot complain about a lack of demand,' said Stephan Mayer, a gun merchant.

'People want to protect themselves.

'The most common purchasers of arms are primarily Austrian women who are also buying tear [pepper] sprays, which are much in demand.'

The new trend is in stark contrast to previous business which was driven by the hunting brigade.

A Viennese sociologist, Roland Girtler, said: 'Migration, in all of human history, comes with many worries.

'Many see danger in these foreigners among them. But this fear is unfounded.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3291978/Shotguns-virtually-sold-Austria-citizens-rush-buy-arms-amid-fears-massive-influx-migrants-dealers-claim.html#comments

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Shotguns have 'virtually sold out' in Austria as citizens rush to buy arms amid fears of a massive influx of migrants, dealers claim

• There are now thought to be estimated 900,000 firearms in Austrian homes
• Police say around 70,000 guns have been sold this year alone in Austria
• Dealers say shotguns have almost sold out because you don't need permit
• Women are driving the sales rush as fears grow amid influx of refugees

Weapon sales are soaring in Austria as citizens of the small Alpine nation become paranoid over the numbers of refugees crowding into their country.

In a country of 8.5 million people, there are now an estimated 900,000 firearms in homes.

And gun dealers report that it is women driving the sales rush. This year alone, police say 70,000 guns have been sold.

'Virtually all shotguns are currently sold out, because you need no permit for them', said Thomas Ortner, spokesman for an arms dealer in Upper Austria.

For every other type of weapon, a licence is required.

Licence courses, in which applicants must demonstrate knowledge of firearms, used to take place every five weeks but they are now held weekly because of spiking demand.

In cities like Salzburg, a line of people outside the necessary government office to get the paperwork to buy a gun is now an everyday sight.

Broadcasters and local media say the numbers of refugees - coupled with a fear of break-ins as a result - is fuelling the arms race.

'Because of the social change, people want to protect themselves,' one arms dealer told the broadcaster oe.24. He said 'many women' were among his customers.

The flood of 'refugees' into Austria is continuing without interruption.

The Hungarian route has become less active, and traffic is now flowing at a rapid rate through Slovenia instead.

Czech Independent TV also reported on the arms upsurge. As of Monday most rifles in the country are out of stock.

The daily paper Heute reported recently: 'The cash registers are currently ringing loud at local gun dealers.

'Figures of the Ministry of the Interior prove it: more and more people are buying guns and rifles.'

A Central weapon register was introduced in June 2014 to record all legal firearm sales.

This year over 14,000 new weapons have been purchased.

Dealers reported that women are also driving up sales of pepper spray because of their fears for personal security in the midst of the great migration of refugees heading to Germany.

'We cannot complain about a lack of demand,' said Stephan Mayer, a gun merchant.

'People want to protect themselves.

'The most common purchasers of arms are primarily Austrian women who are also buying tear [pepper] sprays, which are much in demand.'

The new trend is in stark contrast to previous business which was driven by the hunting brigade.

A Viennese sociologist, Roland Girtler, said: 'Migration, in all of human history, comes with many worries.

'Many see danger in these foreigners among them. But this fear is unfounded.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3291978/Shotguns-virtually-sold-Austria-citizens-rush-buy-arms-amid-fears-massive-influx-migrants-dealers-claim.html#comments

That can't be . We are always told that stuff never haopens in Asian countries

[Teddy B 17,252]

[lostinblue 1,989]

[JohnR! 5,495]

Who would have expected Austria to have its share of xenophobes? What is the world coming to!!! What next? Neo-nazis in Germany?

Edited October 27, 2015 by JohnR!

[ready4ONE 5,400]

That can't be . We are always told that stuff never haopens in Asian countries

Austria is in Europe, but the point of the OP of course is that if guns are selling anywhere, for any reason, it can only demonstrate how guns are good and useful.

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Austria is in Europe, but the point of the OP of course is that if guns are selling anywhere, for any reason, it can only demonstrate how guns are good and useful.

Well who knew ?

[Rob L 3,811]

I hope they don't shoot any Kangaroo's with those shotguns

[Sousuke 1,214]

Its funny how people don't seem to take this thread seriously. If there were 830,000 firearms in austria at the beginning of the year thats a massive increase! 8.5% roughly.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

Its funny how people don't seem to take this thread seriously. If there were 830,000 firearms in austria at the beginning of the year thats a massive increase! 8.5% roughly.

Since the pointless point of this thread is to encourage everyone to go forth and get a gun it's a little bit difficult to take seriously. I think I will be able to get serious about it when there are more than 1 gun per person in Austria and their gun related homicide rate begins to rival the rate in the good old US of A.

[Sousuke 1,214]

Since the pointless point of this thread is to encourage everyone to go forth and get a gun it's a little bit difficult to take seriously. I think I will be able to get serious about it when there are more than 1 gun per person in Austria and their gun related homicide rate begins to rival the rate in the good old US of A.

If the growth rate remains at 8.5% it won't take very long. Which is my point.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Since the pointless point of this thread is to encourage everyone to go forth and get a gun it's a little bit difficult to take seriously. I think I will be able to get serious about it when there are more than 1 gun per person in Austria and their gun related homicide rate begins to rival the rate in the good old US of A.

Young black males make up 3% of the US population and commit 27% of the homicides. Put another way, if black crime rates fell to the same level of whites, America would have an overall crime rate of a typical European country.

http://web.archive.org/web/20121019014646/http:/bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/homicide/race.cfm

The problem is not the guns but a certain segment of the population that use them to do harm .

[decocker 7,198]

Young black males make up 3% of the US population and commit 27% of the homicides. Put another way, if black crime rates fell to the same level of whites, America would have an overall crime rate of a typical European country.

http://web.archive.org/web/20121019014646/http:/bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/homicide/race.cfm

The problem is not the guns but a certain segment of the population that use them to do harm .

dude, please say exactly what you mean. be brave.

[JohnR! 5,495]

It appears your opinion comes from a position of disinformation, prejudice and racism.

Young black males make up 3% of the US population and commit 27% of the homicides. Put another way, if black crime rates fell to the same level of whites, America would have an overall crime rate of a typical European country.

http://web.archive.org/web/20121019014646/http:/bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/homicide/race.cfm

The problem is not the guns but a certain segment of the population that use them to do harm .

[The Nature Boy 7,659]

Young black males make up 3% of the US population and commit 27% of the homicides. Put another way, if black crime rates fell to the same level of whites, America would have an overall crime rate of a typical European country.

http://web.archive.org/web/20121019014646/http:/bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/homicide/race.cfm

The problem is not the guns but a certain segment of the population that use them to do harm .

Be careful with facts.

It appears your opinion comes from a position of disinformation, prejudice and racism.

[/quote

Actually he quoted a statistic. Stats don't have options