Thailand Pledges Stricter Gun Laws After Two Deadly Shootings Near Bangkok
Thailand vows to tighten gun controls after two fatal shootings near Bangkok, ordering a review of permits and stricter enforcement.
The Thai government has announced plans to strengthen gun control measures and intensify action against illegal firearms, following two deadly shootings in Nonthaburi province within a week. The incidents have heightened public concern over gun violence in the country.
In the first shooting, a student opened fire at his high school and family home on Friday, killing at least eight people and wounding more than 20 others before apparently taking his own life. Three days later, a former lawmaker was arrested after a shooting at a government office that left one person dead and another injured.
Government spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana said on Wednesday that authorities are working to tighten firearm regulations, crack down on illegal weapons, and raise awareness about the responsibilities and limits of gun ownership. The ultimate aim, she said, is to remove guns from daily life as much as possible and make Thai society safer.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered an urgent review of gun regulations, including a suspension of new firearm purchase permits and a reassessment of existing ones. The Interior Ministry has been instructed to propose amendments to gun control laws within 60 days, with expected changes including better firearms data collection, stricter trade controls, and harsher penalties for offenders.
Thailand already has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Asia, second only to Pakistan. Data from 2017 showed about 15 guns per 100 people in Thailand, compared with less than one per 100 in neighboring Malaysia. While mass shootings remain rare, the country has seen a rise in high-profile attacks in recent years.