Thailand suspends new gun permits after school shooting

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced a suspension of new gun permits and a series of firearm control measures on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in response to a deadly mass shooting at a high school the previous week. The government's actions include a moratorium on issuing new purchase permits, a review of existing licenses, and the suspension of a welfare program that allowed public officials to buy firearms at discounted prices.

The directive came days after a 14-year-old student carried out a rampage in Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok. On Friday, August 7, the boy first fatally shot his grandparents at their home before opening fire at his school, where he killed several teachers and wounded more than 30 others. The attack ended when the student turned the gun on himself. One of the wounded, a 12-year-old girl, died from her injuries on Saturday, August 8. The incident was described as the country's worst mass shooting since 2022.

The violence was followed by another high-profile shooting on Monday, August 10, when a former lawmaker allegedly killed a local politician in a dispute over finances, according to local reports. These events have intensified...