Thai PM vows to introduce stricter gun laws after eight killed in shooting

What the report says

Thailand’s prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, says he will introduce tighter gun control measures after a teenage shooting that killed eight people and injured 22 on the outskirts of Bangkok, according to BBC World News. The attack began early on Friday, when a 14-year-old boy is reported to have killed his grandparents at the home they shared before going to Debsirin School in Nonthaburi, where he was a student.

BBC World News reported that, once at the school, the teenager shot five teachers before taking his own life. Thai media later said a student had also died from injuries, bringing the death toll to eight. Police said the firearm and ammunition used in the attack belonged to the boy’s grandfather, and investigators found signs the weapon had been searched for in the grandfather’s bedroom.

In response, the prime minister said he plans laws restricting the carrying of guns in public, with an exception only for government officials on duty. The article notes that Thailand already has gun laws, but enforcement has long been uneven, and the country has substantial civilian gun ownership. It also says Anutin previously backed gun-control steps when he served as interior minister. The shooting has renewed attention on school safety and firearm access in Thailand.