‘I’m Sad for Something Like This to Happen in Our Country’: Thai PM Vows to Introduce New Firearms Control Law After Teenager’s Deadly School Rampage
- A 14-year-old student went on a shooting spree, killing seven people, including his grandparents and three teachers, and wounding 23 others at a high school and a home outside Bangkok.
- The teenager, described as “quiet, not very sociable, and fairly good academically”, used at least 26 bullets and was found dead on the fourth floor of the school building after shooting himself.
- The Thai Prime Minister has vowed to introduce a new firearms control law, saying “As much as possible, we have to create an atmosphere of safety” after the country’s worst mass shooting since 2022.
- The shooting has renewed scrutiny of gun regulations in Thailand, Southeast Asia’s largest gun-owning nation with roughly 15 firearms per 100 residents.
The small town of Bang Bua Thong, on the outskirts of Bangkok, was left reeling after a 14-year-old student went on a deadly shooting spree, killing seven people, including his grandparents and three teachers, and wounding 23 others.
The teenager, who was described as “quiet, not very sociable, and fairly good academically”, used at least 26 bullets in the rampage, which has left the community in shock.
The tragedy began at around 5am local time when the boy killed his grandparents in their two-storey house.
Police say the firearm and bullets belonged to the grandfather, and an initial inspection found signs that the firearm had been searched for inside the grandfather’s bedroom.
The three of them lived together in the house, a 90-minute drive from central Bangkok.
The teenager then took school transport as normal and headed to Debsirin Nonthaburi School, where he began his day with two classes. However, about half an hour into his second class, he drew out the gun and began shooting again.
The teenager is believed to have first shot teachers on the sixth floor of the building where he studied, killing three of them, police said. He then continued down a corridor, shooting at students, before attacking two other staff members on a staircase.
Police got a call about the shooting at 9:57am and quickly responded, clearing the building floor-by-floor. They found the teenager on the fourth floor, where he had already shot himself.
He was still alive, so they performed CPR and rushed him to the hospital, but he died soon after.
The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the student was “stressed from his studies”.
The Prime Minister visited the school and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, saying “I’m sad for those who died and sad for something like this to happen in our country”.
The shooting has renewed scrutiny of gun regulations in Thailand, Southeast Asia’s largest gun-owning nation with roughly 15 firearms per 100 residents. This compares with less than one per 100 in neighbouring Malaysia.
Mr Anutin, who tightened gun laws when he was interior minister following a previous mass shooting, said he will propose a new law to restrict the carrying of firearms by the public.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The shooting in Thailand has significant implications for Australia, particularly in terms of gun control and public safety. As a country with strict gun laws, Australia has a reputation for being a safe and secure nation.
However, the Thai shooting highlights the need for continued vigilance and a proactive approach to addressing the risk of gun violence.
Security analysts say that the Thai shooting demonstrates the importance of strict gun control laws and the need for ongoing monitoring and enforcement.
“This incident highlights the risks associated with loose gun laws and the need for governments to take a proactive approach to addressing the issue,” said one analyst.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the Thai shooting could have implications for Australia’s own gun laws, particularly in terms of the need for stricter controls on firearms.
“This incident highlights the need for Australia to continue to take a tough stance on gun control and to ensure that our laws are robust and effective,” said one insider.
Industry observers believe that the Thai shooting will lead to increased calls for stricter gun laws in Australia, particularly in the wake of recent mass shootings in the United States.
“This incident will likely lead to renewed calls for stricter gun laws in Australia, and it’s essential that we take a proactive approach to addressing the issue,” said one observer.
