Thailand moves to tighten gun controls after school shooting

Thailand has implemented stricter gun controls following a recent school shooting that resulted in multiple fatalities. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has temporarily halted the issuance of new firearm purchase permits and is reviewing existing licenses. The police have been instructed to stop renewing permits for gun purchases, while a deputy prime minister responsible for legal affairs is tasked with expediting the drafting of a new gun control law with more stringent regulations and harsher penalties.

The government is also researching legislation that would require legally registered firearms to be kept at home and not be carried in public.

The measures were introduced in the wake of a deadly school shooting outside Bangkok, where a teenage gunman killed several people before taking his own life. This incident has reignited discussions about Thailand's relatively high rates of civilian gun ownership and the prevalence of firearms in the country. According to the Small Arms Survey, civilians in Thailand owned approximately 10.3 million firearms in 2017, which is roughly equivalent to 15 guns per every 100 people – the highest rate in Southeast Asia.

School safety has also been a concern, with Thailand's Education Minister proposing additional measures to the Cabinet. These proposed measures include screening all individuals entering education premises for illegal objects and weapons, as part of efforts to prevent further incidents of violence.