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Thai PM vows stricter gun laws after eight killed in school shooting

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to introduce new gun control laws following a shooting near Bangkok that left eight people dead and 22 injured.

  • A 14-year-old killed his grandparents at home before travelling to Debsirin School, where he killed five teachers and a student, then took his own life.
  • The gun and bullets used in the attack belonged to the teenager's grandfather and were reportedly legally registered.
  • Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul plans to introduce laws restricting the carrying of firearms in public, allowing only on-duty government officials to carry guns.

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to introduce new gun control laws following a shooting on the outskirts of Bangkok that resulted in eight deaths and 22 injuries. The Prime Minister stated he plans to introduce legislation that will restrict the carrying of firearms in public, with only government officials on duty permitted to carry guns.

The incident involved a 14-year-old who killed his 73-year-old grandfather and 74-year-old grandmother at their home. He then travelled to Debsirin School in Nonthaburi, where he was a student, and killed five teachers before taking his own life. Thai media later reported that a student also died from their injuries.

Police Colonel Thadsakorn Konthong stated that the gun and bullets used belonged to the teenager's grandfather. Initial inspections found signs that the firearm had been searched for inside the grandfather's bedroom. International and local media have reported that the gun was legally registered and had a permit.

Prime Minister Anutin described the attack as "well prepared" with "clear steps and clear goals." Local media reports indicate that police searched the teenager's devices and found several videos related to school shootings in the US.

Why this matters: The proposed new gun control laws could significantly alter firearm regulations in Thailand, a country with one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in South East Asia.

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