Editing Overview of gun laws by nation (section)

====Austria====
{{Main|Gun law in Austria}}

[[Austria]] is the only country in the European Union where firearms are only partially licensed; the ''Waffengesetz'' (Weapons Act) provides the legal terms for all types of weapons, including firearms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=1000601+Gesamte+Rechtsvorschrift+f%C3%BCr+Waffengesetz+1996|title=RIS – 1000601 Gesamte Rechtsvorschrift für Waffengesetz 1996 – Bundesrecht konsolidiert, Fassung vom 01.03.2021|website=www.ris.bka.gv.at|access-date=1 March 2021|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521101830/https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=1000601+Gesamte+Rechtsvorschrift+f%C3%BCr+Waffengesetz+1996|url-status=dead}}</ref> § 1 of the law defines ''Weapons'' as objects that are designed to directly eliminate or reduce the ability of people to attack or defend themselves (e.g. knives, pepper spray, gas pistols, etc.) or for firing projectiles during hunting or sport shooting (e.g. crossbows, bows, etc.). § 2 further defines ''Firearms'' as weapons where projectiles can be fired from a barrel in a predefined direction. Most common firearms and some other weapons fall into three different categories, which come with different restrictions:

Category A is divided into two subcategories "war material" and "restricted weapons". "War material" includes for example tanks, fully automatic weapons and armour-piercing weapons; "restricted weapons" includes weapons disguised as other objects, firearms which can be disassembled in a faster than usual fashion for hunting and sport, shotguns with an overall length of less than 90&nbsp;cm (35&nbsp;in) or barrel length shorter than 45&nbsp;cm (18&nbsp;in), [[pump action]] shotguns, suppressors and firearms with suppressors, knuckledusters, blackjacks, steel rods. Category B covers all handguns, repeating shotguns and semi-automatic weapons which are not category A (e.g. pistols, revolvers, semi-automatic rifles and semi-automatic shotguns). Category C includes most other firearms that are not category A or B (e.g. repeating rifles, revolving rifles, break-action rifles and break-action shotguns).

All firearms of category A, B, and C are registered in the central weapon register (Zentrales Waffenregister, or short ZWR). Firearms of category C are the least restricted; all citizens over 18 may purchase them at licensed sellers, even without a firearms licence (barring a 3-day waiting period to check for a weapon ban on the buyer). Category B weapons have further restrictions; buyers must have a firearms license or a carry permit, and be 21, unless granted an exception for the age of 18. Category A weapons typically require further exceptions to be granted for holders, except in the case of suppressors and suppressed weapons, which may be held by those with valid hunting licences without an additional permit. "War material" requires a further special federal permit, which is in practice only granted to approved collectors and experts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10006016&FassungVom=2019-02-14&Artikel=&Paragraf=18&Anlage=&Uebergangsrecht=|title=RIS – Waffengesetz 1996 § 18 – Bundesrecht konsolidiert, Fassung vom 14.02.2019|website=www.ris.bka.gv.at}}</ref> In general, ammunition sales are unrestricted, though handgun ammunition and some rifle ammunition requires a permit. Antique firearms made before 1871, many black powder firearms and some other "less effective weapons" also require no licence or registration.

In addition, § 11a defines further restrictions on the purchase, possession and carrying of all weapons and ammunition for asylum seekers and many third-country nationals. Owning weapons without a permit for them is strictly prohibited and controlled by the police.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heute.at/s/generelles-waffenverbot-fur-auslander-beschlossen-52346200|title=Totales Waffenverbot für Ausländer in Österreich|website=Heute.at|date=21 November 2018 }}</ref>

Carrying firearms in public generally requires a carry permit (or "Waffenpass"). Carry permits are issued by the authorities on a shall issue or may issue basis, depending on reason and applicant. Austrian law makes no distinction between concealed or open carry; with a carry permit, the holder may carry their weapon(s) freely throughout the whole country and even in certain "weapon free zones".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.meinbezirk.at/wieden/c-lokales/waffen-in-wien-10235-personen-duerfen-eine-pistole-tragen_a1681292|title=Waffen in Wien: 10.235 Personen dürfen eine Pistole tragen|website=meinbezirk.at|date=24 March 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.parlament.gv.at/PAKT/PR/JAHR_2018/PK0832/| title = Parlament Österreich}}</ref> However, holders must carry their weapons in a way that does not constitute a public nuisance; for example, openly displaying a handgun in one's belt at the cinema while wearing civil clothing would be considered unusual and could be considered a public nuisance if the police were called.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nachrichten.at/nachrichten/ticker/Bewaffneter-Beamter-loeste-Grosseinsatz-in-Kino-aus;art449,2186488|title=Bewaffneter Beamter löste Großeinsatz in Kino aus|website=nachrichten.at}}</ref>