Last Friday, a 14-year-old boy shot and killed eight people, including his grandparents and five staff members at a school outside Bangkok, before taking his own life. The incident has sparked an immediate response from the Thai government, which has announced that it will stop issuing gun permits and impose stricter gun control laws.
New Gun Permits Suspended After Deadly Mass Shooting
Thailand's government will immediately stop issuing gun permits in response to the recent shooting incident at Debsirin Nonthaburi School. 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. High levels of gun crime have been a concern in Thailand for years.
Measures to Curb Gun Crime
The prime minister has promised to pass tough new gun control laws with severe penalties. Until further notice, no new permits to purchase or own guns will be issued. Existing purchase permits will not be renewed, but it is unclear what will happen to existing gun ownership permits.
The government is also considering measures to persuade the owners of an estimated four million unlicensed guns to hand them over. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has said that the announced measures will remain in place as the government works to pass new gun control laws.
Mental Health Assessments and Stricter Ammunition Controls
Gun control advocates have called for mental health assessments as part of the permit process, and for permits to be periodically re-evaluated. Anutin has said that stricter ammunition controls are in his sights. The education minister has proposed screening at the entrance of schools to stop students from bringing in weapons.
What's Next for Thailand's Gun Control Laws
The Thai government's response to the recent mass shooting is a significant step towards addressing the country's high rates of gun ownership and gun crime. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains to be seen. The government will need to work closely with gun control advocates and other stakeholders to ensure that the new laws are enforced effectively.
In the wake of the school shooting, Thailand's government is under pressure to take decisive action to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future. The announcement to suspend new gun permits is a significant step in this direction, but it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to curb the country's gun crime problem.
Source: Joy Online
