Thailand is suspending new gun permits and tightening its firearm controls after a 14-year-old boy killed eight people before turning the gun on himself in a deadly school shooting last week.
Gun Control Measures
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul issued the directive, ordering government officials to “urgently elevate firearm control measures across the entire system.” The measures include temporarily suspending the issuance of gun purchase permits, re-reviewing all permits still pending approval, and suspending new “welfare gun” programs.
Government agencies will also inspect gun dealers nationwide and verify sales records, inspect ammunition at shooting ranges to check that they’re following regulations, and “accelerate crackdowns on illegal firearms, rigorously prosecute offenders, and request maximum penalties from the court,” the directive read.
Mental Health and Safety Protocols
The Ministry of Education said it would develop new safety protocols in the coming months, including mental health screenings and a system to refer at-risk people to specialists, drills for emergency response plans, a drive to stamp out bullying, and better detection to stop items from being taken into schools.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
