Finn PM surprised at ease for killer to get licence

HELSINKI, Nov 11 (Reuters) Gun policies will be reviewed in Finland after its deadliest school shooting where a student shot eight people, Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said today.

Pekka-Eric Auvinen, who killed six fellow students, two staff members and himself on Wednesday at the Jokela high school, obtained a licence for a .22 calibre handgun through a gun club last month.

''It was an unfortunate surprise for me that one can get a licence for a handgun by visiting a commercial shooting range once,'' Vanhanen said on Yle radio.

''We should consider that handguns, used for target shooting, would be stored at shooting ranges, as in many other countries.'' Interior Minister Anne Holmlund said on Friday the gun permit age would be raised to 18 years from 15 and youths between 15 and 18 could use a gun only with parental supervision.

Vanhanen added that the government would order a large-scale investigation on the shooting.

REUTERS SBC HT2025