Thailand has suspended new firearms licences following a deadly school shooting that killed nine people, with the prime minister promising tighter gun controls and tougher penalties.
Key facts
- Thailand has suspended the issuing of new firearms licences after a mass shooting.
- Nine people were killed in the school shooting, according to the Guardian.
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the interior ministry and police to stop issuing licences to possess, purchase and carry firearms.
- The teenage attacker and the grandparents he killed have been cremated.
- Thailand has high levels of firearms ownership, according to the BBC.
Thailand has suspended the issuing of new firearms licences in the wake of a deadly school shooting, authorities announced this week. The move follows an attack that left nine people dead, according to the Guardian.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said he had ordered the interior ministry and police to stop issuing licences to possess, purchase and carry firearms. He called for “tighter controls and decisive penalties” in response to the violence.
The suspension was announced as the bodies of the teenage attacker and the grandparents he killed were cremated, the Guardian reported.
Authorities have promised tough new laws in the country, which the BBC notes has high levels of firearms ownership.
The measures represent an immediate government response to the shooting, though the sources did not provide further detail on the timeline for new legislation or how long the licence suspension will remain in place.
Why it matters
Thailand has high levels of civilian firearms ownership, according to the BBC. The government's suspension of new permits and calls for tougher laws signal a potential shift in how the nation regulates access to guns.
Frequently asked questions
What action has Thailand taken after the shooting?
The government has suspended the issuing of new firearms licences. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the interior ministry and police to stop issuing licences to possess, purchase and carry firearms.
How many people died in the shooting?
Nine people were killed in the school shooting, according to the Guardian.
What does the prime minister want to happen next?
Anutin Charnvirakul called for tighter controls and decisive penalties, and authorities have promised tough new gun laws, according to the sources.