Thailand Halts New Gun Permits After Mass Shooting at a School

A student opened fire at a high school in Thailand on Friday, killing at least six people and wounding others, according to police reports. The incident occurred at the Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, located northwest of Bangkok. Royal Thai Police spokesperson Trairong Piwpan confirmed the attack to The Associated Press, describing the shooter as a student who had previously killed his two grandparents at home before proceeding to the school. Witnesses recounted hearing gunshots from another building before students hid inside a classroom. Police later entered the building and helped evacuate the students. The shooter, identified as a 14-year-old boy, was found with 34 additional rounds of ammunition in addition to the 26 bullets he had fired. The weapon, a 9mm handgun, was reportedly taken from a member of his family, according to police. The shooter was discovered dead at the scene after he had apparently shot himself in the head. Authorities provided varying casualty figures. Trairong stated that the attacker was hospitalized in serious condition, with 15 others injured, including two in critical condition. Three teachers and three students were reported killed. However, Thailand’s Health Minister Pattana Promphat noted that 22 individuals were hurt, with nine in critical condition. Some injuries were caused by falls, and it remained unclear how many were gunshot victims. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee reported that five teachers had died and that the perpetrator had killed his two grandparents at home before heading to the school. He further stated that the attacker died at a hospital. Emergency responders arrived at the scene and treated several injured individuals. One 18-year-old student described the initial confusion, thinking the sounds were firecrackers or someone knocking objects. As the shooting continued, the student realized the danger and fled. Medical staff reported that a male teacher was found dead on an upper floor of the school, while a female teacher suffered wounds to her chest and arm. The shooter was found dead after a final shot, and paramedics performed CPR until he was transported to the hospital. This incident marks the second school shooting in Thailand this year. Earlier in February, a teacher was killed and a student injured in a similar attack in the southern city of Hat Yai. Over the past few years, Thailand has witnessed several deadly shootings, often involving firearms. Notable incidents include a 2022 massacre in the northeast where a former policeman killed 36 people, including 22 children, and a 2020 shooting in Nakhon Ratchasima where a soldier killed 29 people. In 2023, a 14-year-old used a modified handgun to kill two people and injure five others at a luxury shopping center in Bangkok. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, calling it a devastating event for the country. He emphasized the need for comprehensive support for those affected and reiterated existing gun control measures. These include a one-year ban on issuing new personal gun licenses and the suspension of public carry permits, which were later extended. Gun ownership in Thailand is relatively common, with estimates suggesting that approximately 10.3 million firearms are held by civilians, or roughly 15 per 100 residents, according to the Small Arms Survey. This compares to over 393 million firearms in the U.S., or 120.5 per 100 residents.