Thai PM suspends firearm purchase licences after school shooting
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday suspended the issuance of permits to buy firearms and said existing licences would be reviewed, days after a 14-year-old gunman killed nine people.
Prime Minister Anutin has suspended the issuance of firearm purchase licenses following a tragic school shooting that left six people dead and the perpetrator taking his own life. The incident marks Thailand's worst mass killing in nearly four years. In response, Anutin instructed a deputy prime minister responsible for legal affairs to swiftly draft a new gun control law with stricter regulations and more severe penalties.
Police have been directed to halt the renewal of permits that permit individuals to buy firearms. Registered firearms must now be kept at home and cannot be carried in public, as per the existing law. Anutin also mentioned that studies are being conducted to potentially enforce legislation requiring the return of illegal firearms to the state within a certain timeframe.
Last week's tragic event occurred at a school outside Bangkok, where a teenage student had fatally shot his grandparents before killing six individuals and himself. Thailand is estimated to have around 10.3 million civilian firearms, which translates to approximately 15 guns per 100 residents, making it the highest rate in the region according to a 2017 estimate by the Small Arms Survey.
The Education Minister has presented a proposal to the cabinet, recommending enhanced school safety measures. These measures include screening all individuals entering educational premises for any illegal objects or weapons.
Written by urgent.news from VnExpress International's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
