Too Many Guns in Finland

STORY:
A candlelit vigil in remembrance of the 10 students who were killed at this school in southern Finland.

22 year old student, Matti Saari, shot the students and set the school on fire.

He then turned the gun on himself, and later died in hospital. One woman is still being treated.

The incident has shocked the community, and there are growing concerns about safety and gun law.

[Vuokko Kuosmanen, Helsinki Resident]:
"I was very shocked. It was a second time in a short period, less than one year when we have this tragedy in southern Finland. I'm very concerned, because I have a daughter of 16-years-old and see how she reacts."

Having visited the scene of the latest school massacre in his country, Prime Minster Matti Vanhanen said the age limit of owning a weapon must change.

[Matti Vanhanen, Finnish Prime Minister]:
"The European Union got its new gun directive just last summer and now it is the time in every member state to implement it. That EU directive gives some minimum standards. For example, the age limit now in the directive is 18 years. We have had it at 15 years in Finland, and of course we will raise it to 18 years. But is it enough?''

He also hinted that other gun laws must be altered to prevent further incidents from taking place.

[Matti Vanhanen, Finnish Prime Minister]:
"After this type of behaviour, my personal opinion is that, especially now I study the cases, can people get licence to a handgun so freely, like it has been used in Finland?. So, I'm very critical for these guns, handguns, and during next few months we will make a decision about that."

Gun ownership in Finland is one of the highest in the world. But crime rates are low.

Finland is ranked third after the U.S and Yemen with the number of people who own guns. But in the wake of recent events that position could soon change.

Category:

News & Politics

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[sepi612]

Vanhasen puupää jatkaa kepulien Tankero-englannin änkyttämistä. Säälittävää ja samalla hävettävää.

Äijä pyörii Eu-ympyröissä kuin eksynyt pikkulapsi. Mitähän sen fasisti-isäkin ajattelee?

[BloodyLovin]

Ummm...Finland has THE highest incidence of alcoholism in the world. They make the Irish look like wine cooler-nursing squares.

[herrahanska]

mätti vänhänen is bad minister

[verrri1]

@BloodyLovin well thats not true at all: In Finland alcohol consumption is 12.52 liters per capita, in Ireland 14.41. Sorry;) Even in Denmark they drink more: 13.37:)

[KoivuTheHab]

@BloodyLovin It seems you know very little about the world then. You can take a pick on almost any former USSR state and they will have more. Please take some time to visit these countries like I have, and then comment. On another note this news report is actually hilarious, because it's clear they know nothing about Finland: ''That position could soon change'' - As if people would suddenly stup hunting for food, the only thing that has happend is that it's harder to get a license for a handgun.

[SniperSurkov]

government...shut up..!

[joserelopez]

Please do not change the LAW, Mexico is having the worsth level of violence in the world because the law was changes 40 years ago, and now civilians can not have guns in Mexico, It is realli very difficult to have legal guns in Mexico. Only the bad people have guns and they can do waathever they want to do! Mexicans are on the hands of Bad people!!!

[SirRetku]

I think about suitable number of guns for one person is around 12-15. Then you dont get bored. Mr Vanhanen can fuck off. His party lost in the election so he is history anyway.

[123karismith]

This retard needs to go shovel snow, the only reason that Fins aren't speaking Russian is because of firearms!

[goldbullet50]

we don't need any fucking change, maybe a bit easier to have guns thats all

[Grackafeldtch]

@tontsa911

I guess it's sort of a separate-the-key-from-the-lock approach

[tontsa911]

"Too many guns"? WRONG. Too many potential killers. When do some people learn...