Thailand suspends new gun permits after Nonthaburi school shooting

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 pass tough new gun control laws with severe penalties, suspending new permits in the meantime.

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.