Armed confrontation at the Tiroler Gunner's debate involving women

In the picturesque Austrian federal state of Tyrol, the Bund der Tiroler Schützenkompanien (Federation of Tyrolean Rifle Companies) has initiated a democratic reflection and decision-making process. This process, which involves workshops and discussions during the regional education days, aims to determine whether women will be allowed to serve as armed riflewomen within the Tyrolean Rifle Companies.

The discussion events for opinion formation will be held in the fall, with a secret ballot scheduled for winter to decide the matter. Two of the 235 Tyrolean shooting companies have already applied to allow women to carry rifles, signifying a shift in tradition that originates from within the ranks of the Tyrolean shooting companies.

The Tyrolean shooters, with a history dating back to the Middle Ages, no longer play a role in the defense of the land but instead defend "core values of our culture, history, and traditions, as well as the Tyrolean way of life." The Tyrolean shooters' umbrella organization acknowledges the historical participation of armed women in their ranks, with some women in past centuries participating in uprisings and fights and even leading units within the Tyrolean shooters.

In contrast, the mountain shooters in Bavaria, like their Tyrolean counterparts, have a history dating back to the Middle Ages. However, unlike the Tyrolean shooters, the mountain shooters in Bavaria do not have a current debate or initiative to allow women to carry rifles. The mountain shooters in Bavaria maintain similar traditions to those in Tyrol, but women are not part of the "armed troops."

The folklore associations, which have over 14,000 active members, are a significant part of both Tyrolean and Bavarian culture. In Tyrol, each shooting company can decide for itself whether to march with armed women in their ranks, if the majority votes in favor. In Bavaria, the mountain shooters have active female members in sport shooting, but not in the "armed troops," according to state commander Martin Haberfellner.

This potential change in tradition is a significant step towards gender equality within these age-old cultural practices. The Tyrolean shooting companies' umbrella organization wants to strongly involve the female members in these discussions, ensuring that all voices are heard in this historic decision-making process.