Thailand PM vows tougher gun laws after school shooting Government moves to tighten gun lawsThailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has vowed to introduce tougher gun-control laws after a 14-year-old student killed eight people in a shooting in Nonthaburi, on the outskirts of Bangkok. The teenager is believed to have first killed his grandparents at their home early Friday morning before travelling to Debsirin School, where he was a student. He later opened fire inside the school, killing teachers and school staff before taking his own life. At least 22 others were injured. Anutin said the tragedy should never have happened and announced plans to restrict the carrying of firearms in public. Under the proposed rules, guns would generally only be carried by government officials while on duty. Gun was reportedly legally registeredThe case has raised immediate questions about how firearms are stored and accessed in Thailand. Police say the weapon and ammunition belonged to the teenager's grandfather, and the gun was reportedly legally registered with a permit. Police believe the teenager searched for the firearm in his grandfather's bedroom before taking it. He is then reported to have carried the gun and dozens of rounds of ammunition onto a school bus before arriving at school. The incident has therefore put renewed attention on not only illegal firearms, but also the security and storage of legally owned weapons. Thailand already has relatively strict firearms laws, with illegal possession punishable by up to 10 years in prison. But enforcement has long been a problem, while the country has one of the highest levels of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia. Around 10.3 million firearms are estimated to be in civilian hands, with roughly four million believed to be unregistered or illegally held. Prime minister promises actionAnutin, who previously introduced gun-control measures while serving as interior minister, said the government must now go further. The proposed restrictions would represent a significant tightening of rules governing when civilians can carry firearms outside their homes. The prime minister said the attack was apparently carefully prepared, describing it as having "clear steps and clear goals". Police have also reportedly examined electronic devices belonging to the teenager and found videos connected with school shootings in the United States. Family members have described the teenager as quiet and well behaved. His uncle told Thai media that he spent much of his time indoors playing violent video games and rarely went outside, with no obvious indication that he was planning an attack. The government now faces the difficult task of deciding whether tougher restrictions can prevent similar tragedies — particularly when the weapon involved was reportedly legally owned and kept in a family home. For Thailand, the shooting has reignited a long-running debate over civilian firearms, gun storage and how effectively existing laws are enforced. SOURCE BBC
