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Swedish MPs seek gun law review

The Local/pvs
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Swedish MPs seek gun law review
The weapons in this picture have no connection to the Norway terror attacks.

Several political parties want to see a review of Sweden's gun laws in the wake of the twin terror attacks in Norway.

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"The sad fact is that gun laws in Sweden allow the type of weapon that Breivik used in Norway, a type of semi-automatic weapon which is almost of military origin," said Christian Democrat Tuve Skånberg to Sveriges Radio's Ekot news programme.

The Centre Party, Liberal Party (Folkpartiet), Social Democrats and the Left have also voiced calls to review the legislation.

Swedish police stated yesterday that Anders Behring Breivik, who has admitted perpetrating Friday's attacks, who never have been able to obtain a licence for the weapon used in the massacre on Utøya.

Behring Breivik had obtained his permit for a Ruger semi-automatic rifle as he planned to hunt deer.

Lars Tonneman, director of the police law section at the National Police Agency (Rikspolisstyrelsen) said that licences would only be given in Sweden in extraordinary circumstances.

Roughly 2,500 individuals in Sweden have licenses for submachine guns. According to the Swedish Shooting Sport Association (Svenska skyttesportförbundet), this is the only type of automatic weapon that is used at Swedish shooting clubs.

Justice Minister Beatrice Ask has said that she is working on the issue on whether current legislation is in need of a review.

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