Germany's coalition government is set to seek whatever legal means necessary to prevent another mass shooting. But if the weapon was acquired illegally, stricter controls on gun purchases may not be the answer, dw.com reports today, July 24, 2016. Besides tighter gun laws, more money for the police, use of soldiers in terrorism operation on German soil are some of the topics German politicians are discussing in the wake of Friday’s rampage in Munich.

Both ruling parties (CDU and SPD) have agreed that more stringent laws were necessary to prevent copycat attacks. It might sound surprising to most that Germany has the fourth-highest gun ownership per capita in the world, and this with one of the most complicated and detailed laws on gun ownership. DW.com further explains that there are three levels of gun permits in Germany, for competitive shooting, hunting, and for experts and collectors whose purchases must be individually submitted for approval.

The Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maizière (CDU) sees the German gun laws as “very strict already, but is prepared to review them. Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) said: "The weapon control is an important point, we are required to do everything possible to limit access to lethal weapons and strictly control it."

On Friday, July 22, 2016 a shooting occurred in the vicinity of the Olympia shopping mall. Ten people, including the gunman, were killed and 35 were injured. The shooting took began at a McDonald's restaurant near the shopping mall. Officials identified the lone gunman as an 18-year-old German of Iranian descent from Munich who later committed suicide.

According to latest reports, most of the victims were young people from Munich (among them three Kosovo nationals, three Turkish nationals and one Greek national) the oldest being a 45-year-old woman. Latest reports indicate that the shooter was inspired by the attack which happened 5 years ago in Norway also on July 22.