Thailand Halts New Gun Permits After Deadly School Shooting
The Story
Thailand's Department of Provincial Administration announced new gun-control rules, including halting firearms as prizes for kamnan (sub-district chiefs) and village headmen. This change responds to public criticism after a mass shooting in Nonthaburi left nine people dead. Last week, a 14-year-old student used his grandfather's handgun to fatally shoot both grandparents, then killed five teachers and wounded over 30 others at his high school. One wounded 12-year-old girl died Saturday, bringing the school death toll to six. The attack ended when the boy turned the gun on himself. This was the deadliest mass shooting in the country since 2022. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced a suspension of new gun permits on Tuesday, part of several firearm control measures. He directed a deputy to expedite drafting a firearms law with harsher penalties. The government's objective is to place firearm ownership, carrying, and use under tighter supervision, not to revoke the right of lawful self-defense. A high-profile shooting on Monday, where a former lawmaker killed a local politician, followed the school attack. Thailand has about 10 million firearms in civilian hands, with 4.1 million believed unregistered, according to a 2017 estimate. Civilians are already prohibited from carrying firearms in public under a ban instituted this year. Provincial governor Chumphot Wannachatsiri clarified that winners of a recent lottery received cash, not firearms directly, despite guns being designated as prizes. Government deputy spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said ideas for health screenings and vetting of license holders could be studied.
The Spread
What they agree on
- Thailand has announced new gun-control measures, including a suspension of new gun permits.
- The policy changes follow a deadly mass shooting at a high school in Nonthaburi last week, where a 14-year-old student killed six people and his two grandparents.
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued directives to urgently elevate firearm control measures and expedite drafting tougher gun laws.
- The government's objective is to place firearm ownership, carrying, and use under tighter supervision, while maintaining the right to lawful self-defense.
- Thailand has a high level of gun ownership, with millions of firearms in civilian hands, a portion of which are unregistered.
Where they split
- The Bangkok Post focuses on the specific policy change regarding firearms as prizes for local officials and the clarification from provincial authorities about cash prizes.
- The Boston Globe and Egypt Independent emphasize the broader government directives, including the suspension of new gun permits and the acceleration of new firearms legislation.
- Bearing Arms discusses the phenomenon of gun control laws in the US, like Oregon's Measure 114, leading to increased consumer interest in firearms.