Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, Mourners pray for the 12-year-old who died after being shot at the school outside Bangkok
ByJonathan HeadSouth East Asia correspondent, Reporting fromBangkok- Published13 minutes ago
Thailand's government will immediately stop issuing gun permits after a shooting incident last week in which a 14-year-old killed eight people and himself.
Existing gun owners are already banned from carrying their weapons in public.
The South East Asian country has one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in the region, with around 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession, and high levels of gun crime.
In response to the recent shooting, the prime minister has promised to speed up tough new gun control laws with severe penalties.
Last Friday, a pupil at Debsirin Nonthaburi School outside Bangkok shot his grandparents using a handgun owned by his grandfather, before opening fire at teachers and students at school, authorities say.
Both grandparents, five staff members at the school and one 12-year-old girl died.
Police believe the shooter may have taught himself to use a gun via social media.
They say there is evidence that the boy watched violent content online, and that he showed a strong interest in learning how to handle guns.
His consumption of this content as well as anxiety over studies and family issues might have also fuelled his actions, they add.
Image source, AFPImage caption, Officials paid their respects to the victims on Tuesday at a Nonthaburi temple
From now on, no new permits to purchase or own guns will be issued and existing permits will not be renewed.
Permits to carry guns were suspended in late 2023. Gun owners must keep their weapons at home or at a shooting range.
The government is also considering measures to persuade the owners of an estimated four million unlicensed guns to hand them in.
Furthermore, the education minister has proposed screening at the entrance of schools to stop students from bringing in weapons.
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