Thailand suspends new gun permits after mass shooting

Thailand suspends new gun permits after mass shooting Thai authorities announced an immediate halt to the issuance of new firearm permits following a shooting last week in which a 14‑year‑old killed eight people before taking his own life. The measure comes as the government already prohibits existing gun owners from carrying weapons in public spaces. Thailand possesses one of the highest civilian gun‑ownership rates in Southeast Asia, with roughly 10.3 million firearms held by private citizens and a correspondingly elevated level of gun‑related crime. In reaction to the incident, the prime minister pledged to accelerate the passage of stringent new gun‑control legislation that would impose tough penalties for violations. According to police, the attack unfolded on Friday at Debsirin Nonthaburi School, located outside Bangkok. A student used a handgun owned by his grandfather to shoot his grandparents, then opened fire on teachers and classmates. The grandparents, five school staff members and a 12‑year‑old girl were killed; the shooter died at the scene. Investigators told the BBC that the teenager may have learned to operate the weapon through social media. They said evidence indicates he consumed violent online content and displayed a keen interest in mastering firearms. Police added that his exposure to such material, combined with anxiety over schoolwork and family problems, likely contributed to his actions. The URL referenced in the original report remains: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy07dern0n0o.