Sweden Bans AR-15 After Örebro Crisis, Sends Arms to Ukraine
- A mass shooting at Risbergska Skolan in Örebro in February 2025 resulted in 11 deaths, marking Sweden's deadliest mass shooting.
- In response, the government chose to prohibit the use of AR-15 style firearms and comparable semi-automatic weapons for hunting purposes, even though the perpetrator employed different types of guns in the incident.
- Starting August 1, 2025, police will stop issuing hunting licenses for AR-15s, and licensed owners have two years to relicense or trade in their weapons with full market compensation.
- Justice Minister Gunnar Strommer emphasized restricting the AR-15 because it can cause “great harm in a short time,” while Sweden plans to donate confiscated rifles to Ukraine as part of its military aid.
- The ban aims to balance preventing gun violence with hunters' needs, but it may challenge Sweden’s 280,000-strong hunting community and could inspire similar European restrictions.
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Sweden to tighten semi-automatic rifle rules after mass shooting
HELSINKI, June 30 (Xinhua) -- Sweden will ban AR-15 rifles and similar semi-automatic firearms for hunting following a deadly school shooting in February. Read full story
Some semi-automatic weapons, including the AR-15, will be banned from hunting, according to a new bill from the government and the Sweden Democrats. The weapons that are redeemed will be donated to Ukraine.


Sweden set to ban AR-15 semi-automatic rifles for hunting
The Swedish government and the Sweden Democrats have reportedly agreed to ban AR-15 semi-automatic rifles for hunting, with current licensed owners told to either reapply for a sport shooting license or trade in their weapons.
Information to Ekot. Forced redemption for those who own the weapon.
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