World

Finnish deaths spark gun law call

by Dave Keating | September 24, 2008 at 03:31 am

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A day after the horrific school schooting in Finland, the seconf big attack in just a short time, politicians are questioning Finland's gun control policy. Finland's gun laws are among the most permissive in Europe. In fact, Finland has the highest level of gun ownership per capita in the world.

Finland's prime minister has called for gun laws to be tightened after a school shooting that left 11 people dead.

Matti Vanhanen said Finland should consider banning private handguns.

On Tuesday Matti Juhani Saari shot nine students and a teacher at a college in the western town of Kauhajoki, before turning his gun on himself.

He was questioned by police a day earlier after posting on the internet a video clip of himself at a shooting range, but was not detained.

Flags are flying at half-mast across Finland in a day of national mourning for the victims of the shooting.