Thailand Suspends Gun Permits After Fatal School Shooting

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:57:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Thai government has halted new gun permits and will not renew existing ones following a 14‑year‑old’s deadly attack on a school outside Bangkok.

In the wake of a school massacre that claimed eight lives and claimed the shooter’s own, Thailand’s government has suspended the issuance of new firearm permits and will not renew current ones. Existing gun owners are also barred from carrying weapons in public, and authorities urge owners of unlicensed guns to surrender them. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pledged stricter gun laws and penalties, while the Education Ministry has floated school entrance security checks to stop weapons from entering campuses.

Thailand Suspends Gun Permits After Fatal School Shooting

The Royal Thai government has announced a halt to all new firearm permits and will not renew existing licences following a tragic shooting at Debsirin Nonthaburi School outside Bangkok. A 14‑year‑old boy opened fire with a handgun belonging to his grandfather, killing eight people—his grandparents, five staff members, and a 12‑year‑old student—before taking his own life.

Existing gun owners are now prohibited from carrying their weapons in public. Authorities will enforce the storage of firearms at home or at designated shooting ranges, and are urging the estimated four million unlicensed guns in circulation to be surrendered.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul vowed to accelerate tougher gun‑control legislation with harsher penalties. The Education Minister has proposed screening protocols at school entrances to prevent weapons from entering schools.

Investigators suggest the shooter may have taught himself firearms skills online, following violent content that intensified his stress over studies and family matters. The incident has reignited the debate over Thailand’s already high civilian gun ownership—around 10.3 million firearms are in civilian hands.

Images of mourners and the aftermath have circulated, highlighting the community’s grief and the urgency of new safety measures. The government’s swift response aims to curb future tragedies and restore public confidence in Thai law enforcement.