Thai Prime Minister vows stricter gun laws after tragic school shooting

Thailand's prime minister has pledged new firearms legislation in the aftermath of a devastating shooting that claimed eight lives.

The 14‑year‑old gunman first killed his 73‑year‑old grandfather and 74‑year‑old grandmother in a two‑storey flat before boarding a school bus to Debsirin School in the outskirts of Bangkok, where he opened fire on five teachers and the school’s deputy director, killing eight victims in total, including a student who died from injuries.

The prime minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said the tragedy had shown that the country’s current gun‑control framework was inadequate, with enforcement gaps that allow legally registered weapons to be used in violence. He vowed to tighten laws so that firearms can be carried only by officers on duty and to implement stricter penalties for unlawful possession.

India’s firearms record is staggering, with about 10.3 million civilian weapons in possession, roughly four million considered illegal. Though the country’s laws impose up to ten years in jail for illegal holdings, many offenses remain unpunished.

Detained during the incident, the teenager had found a registered gun in his grandfather’s bedroom, a weapon that had undergone safety checks yet was ultimately misused. Investigation reports revealed that the shooter had been influenced by videos of school shootings from the United States and spent much of his time playing violent video games.

The school, the oldest secondary institution in Bangkok and a crucible for Thai leadership, faces an increased scrutiny of safety protocols and gun‑control measures. Prime Minister Charnvirakul concluded that the shooting was “well‑prepared” and that the Thai nation must rethink its approach to firearms and public safety.