Last Friday, the government and the Sweden Democrats announced that they want to ban hunters from having semi-automatic weapons of military type, such as the AR-15. This U-turn in the weapons issue is now sparking criticism.
Richard Jomshof (SD), chairman of the Justice Committee, writes on X that it's never good to make hasty decisions.
"And to think that you solve some problem by, as in this case, advocating for a ban on a specific type of weapon, which wasn't even used in the mass shooting, is naive. At the very least", he writes.
"Crushing majority"
Jomshof continues to write that the decision lacks internal anchoring in the parties, not least in the Sweden Democrats:
"In fact, there is a crushing majority in the Sweden Democrats who do not share the presented stance and I find it hard to imagine that it will stop at this."
He receives support from other heavyweight representatives. Tobias Andersson (SD), chairman of the Riksdag's Industry Committee, writes to TT that there is broad criticism of the proposal:
"I have internally expressed that I personally hope that the stance will be reconsidered and changed", he writes.
On X, Andersson states that he has never experienced a similar storm of criticism from his own sympathizers during his 13 years in the party.
Another of the critical members of parliament, Magnus Persson, writes in a text message to TT that he "did not participate in the decision" and that he does not stand behind it.
M previously against ban
On Monday, the Sweden Democrats' party board will meet. The issue is not formally on the agenda, but is still up for discussion, according to information to TT.
On Sunday, the chairmen of the party's 27 local districts had a meeting. They agreed to write a protest letter to the party board, which 24 districts have backed, reports Göteborgs-Posten.
The Moderate Party has also previously argued against a ban. Now, Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) states that the goal is to present a legislative proposal during the term of office.
The government has no information that the suspected perpetrator in Örebro had any of the weapons that are now to be banned for hunters.
Instead, they emphasize that the AR-15 is an example of a weapon that is compatible with large military weapon magazines. It has also been used in other notable shootings, including when two Swedish football fans were killed in Brussels.
