Thailand bans new gun permits after school shooting kills 9

Thailand's government has moved to suspend all new firearm permits in the country following a deadly school shooting that took place last Friday at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located on the outskirts of Bangkok. The attack left eight people dead — including a 12-year-old girl — alongside the 14-year-old perpetrator, who took his own life after the rampage.

How the attack unfolded

According to authorities, the student used a handgun belonging to his grandfather to shoot both grandparents before heading to the school grounds where he opened fire on staff and fellow pupils. Five school employees and a young student died in the assault. Police investigators believe the teenager had taught himself how to handle weapons by watching content online, and that anxiety over academic performance and family difficulties may have contributed to his actions.

Government response

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that no new permits to purchase or own firearms will be issued until further notice. Existing purchase permits will not be renewed, though the status of current gun ownership licences remains under review. A ban on carrying weapons in public had already been in effect since late 2023, restricting gun owners to keeping their weapons at home or at shooting ranges.

The government is also considering measures to encourage the estimated four million owners of unlicensed firearms to surrender their weapons voluntarily. Anutin pledged to push through new gun control legislation with significantly harsher penalties as a long-term response to the tragedy.

A country with high civilian gun ownership

Thailand has one of the highest rates of civilian firearm ownership in Southeast Asia, with approximately 10.3 million guns in private hands. Gun control advocates have long called for mandatory mental health assessments as part of the permit process, as well as periodic re-evaluation of existing licences.