Thailand has suspended the issuance of gun permits following a school shooting
The Thai government will immediately suspend the issuance of new permits for the purchase and possession of firearms following a school shooting near Bangkok that left eight people dead. Existing permits will also not be renewed, according to BBC News.
According to authorities, last Friday, a 14-year-old student at Debsirin Nonthaburi School first shot and killed his grandfather and grandmother with a pistol belonging to his grandfather, and then opened fire on teachers and students. Two of his grandparents, five school staff members, and a 12-year-old girl were killed. The teenager then took his own life.
Police believe the student may have learned how to use a firearm through social media. Law enforcement officials stated that they have evidence he viewed violent content online and showed a significant interest in handling firearms. According to police, the teenager’s actions may also have been influenced by anxiety over school and family problems.
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Thailand’s prime minister has promised to expedite the passage of stricter gun control laws with severe penalties. Gun permits in the country were suspended at the end of 2023, so owners must keep their firearms at home or at shooting ranges.
The government is also considering measures to encourage owners of approximately four million unlicensed firearms to turn them in. The Minister of Education has proposed implementing security checks at school entrances to prevent students from bringing weapons onto school grounds.
