However, Brax emphatically denies that the government is not taking any action at all. She says the cabinet has unanimously approved a resolution on the aim of further tightening of gun laws in the autumn. First, though, Parliament will have its say about proposed changes already presented to it.
There are an estimated 250,000 standard handguns and 200,000 semi-automatic pistols in Finland. All of the multiple-victim shootingss that have taken place in recent years in the country have been carried out with handguns.
"Actually a rather radical change is already being reviewed by Parliament. In that respect, it is not true that nothing is happening. Additionally, Prime Minister Mari Kiviniemi has confirmed that in the autumn the cabinet will discuss a proposed resolution about a ban on all handguns that are not intended for sport use," the Justice Minister told YLE.
Although the preparation of gun laws is the job of the Ministry of the Interior, Brax says that her ministry has presented matters for consideration.
"Could it be that functional weapons should not be kept at home? For target shooting, they are needed at the range, not in anyone's home. There are many other alternatives between a complete ban and these weapons not being in people's daily lives. (Interior Minister) Holmlund is however right in saying that illegal weapons cannot be eliminated from the underground market," noted Brax.
Justice Minister Brax also pointed out that the idea of a full ban on handguns has divided public opinion.
"As in politics in general, it is to some degree a matter of what the voters say. That is, it affects how far ahead we move with this."