Overview
- A 14-year-old killed family members and then opened fire at Debsirin Nonthaburi School on Aug. 7, killing eight people in total and wounding more than 20 before he apparently took his own life.
- Prime Minister Anutin ordered a temporary halt to new gun-purchase permits, suspended the discounted 'welfare gun' program, called for dealer and range inspections, and approved early victim compensation.
- The government instructed the Interior Ministry to draft amendments to firearm laws within 60 days and directed police to step up crackdowns on illegal weapons and pending-permit reviews.
- Experts say such steps may not stop future attacks without stronger enforcement and structural reforms, noting Thailand has an estimated 10–10.3 million civilian firearms and about 4 million thought to be unregistered.
- Schools have tightened security and education authorities plan mental-health screening and threat-assessment measures, while officials consider longer-term policies such as mandatory safe-storage rules, licence renewal and possible amnesty drives to remove illicit guns from circulation.