Slovakia is not used on such an attention-and such a reason of attention-from the world media. The case of gunman killing 7 people is a clear evidence, that stricter gun control is needed also here.

Seven people dead, 14 injured- that is the result of a gunman, who has opened fire in Slovakia's capital Bratislava. The attacker killed himself in the end of the bloody morning- but the questions how this was possible remain.

It is still unconfirmed, that the gunman was a former soldier. But it is confirmed, that he owned at least one of the guns legally. And that is the problem of the whole case- ownership of guns in Slovakia is restricted, but some of the owners are a real threat for the society. Psychological tests are undervalued and some of gun owners did not just look as mentally labile- they are mentally labile, what is sadly confirmed by this recent case. The image of many gun owners is suspicious- it is an image of skinheads often accompanied by pit-bull dogs with doubtful connections to gang members or mafia. Sometimes these gun owners are members of private security forces or even former police officers or former soldiers. Instead of security, law and order they are a source of fear for people in Slovakia and these doubtful gun owners worsen the image of in eyes of foreigners and tourists.

The only one possibility how to prevent similar cases is to have a stricter gun control. Cases like Virginia Tech shooting in US are still not- thankfully- business as usual in Slovakia. Police should enforce stricter history checks and stricter psychological tests when giving a person a permission to own a gun. Otherwise, Michael Moore will have one more country for his documentaries in the future.

 Zolo Mikes

Photo: ISIFA