Thai PM vows new gun law after deadly school shooting

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul vowed to introduce a new firearm control law following a deadly school shooting that left eight people dead. The new law will restrict the carrying of firearms by the general public, allowing only government officials on duty to possess guns. The incident occurred when a Thai teenager fatally shot his grandparents before killing five others and himself at a school outside Bangkok.

With an estimated 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession, Thailand has the highest gun ownership rate in the region. Of these, over six million are registered firearms, while four million are unregistered. The teenage suspect's actions followed a series of mass shootings in Thailand, including attacks at schools and a major Bangkok mall.

In response to a 2023 mall shooting, Anutin, then interior minister, implemented several gun control measures, including a ban on new licenses and import restrictions. However, these measures lack mental health screening for gun owners, allow individuals as young as 20 to possess weapons, and do not require periodic reassessments for license holders.

Gun control expert Piyaporn Tunneekul emphasized the need for intervention, citing red-flag laws in other countries as a potential solution to prevent such tragedies.