Thailand's government has pledged to tighten gun controls and take stronger action against illegal firearms after two deadly shootings near Bangkok within a week renewed calls to curb gun violence.
Thailand has one of Asia's highest rates of gun ownership despite having relatively strict firearm laws. Both recent shootings took place in Nonthaburi province, northwest of Bangkok, increasing pressure on authorities to strengthen enforcement.
A student opened fire at his high school and family home on Friday, killing at least eight people and injuring more than 20 before apparently taking his own life, police said. Three days later, a former lawmaker was arrested after a shooting at a government office left one person dead and another injured.
Government spokesperson Lalida Persvivatana said Wednesday that authorities were working to strengthen gun regulations, crack down on illegal firearms and increase public awareness about the responsibilities and limits of gun ownership.
"The ultimate goal is to find ways to remove guns from people's daily lives as much as possible and make Thai society safer," she said in a statement.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Tuesday ordered an urgent review of the country's gun regulations. The review includes suspending new firearm purchase permits and checking existing permits, according to a statement from the Government House.
He also instructed the Interior Ministry to propose amendments to the gun control laws within 60 days. The proposed changes are expected to improve firearm registration, tighten controls on the gun trade and increase penalties for violations.
Illegal possession of firearms in Thailand can carry one to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 20,000 baht ($600). However, critics say weaknesses in enforcement have allowed illegal guns to remain a problem.
According to data collected in 2017 by the Small Arms Survey and GunPolicy.org, Thai civilians owned about 15 firearms for every 100 people. The figure was far higher than in neighboring Malaysia, where there were fewer than one firearm per 100 people.
Thailand recorded 3.49 firearm-related deaths per 100,000 people in 2023, according to World Population Review data. While the rate is lower than in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, it remains relatively high in Asia. In Southeast Asia, only the Philippines had a higher rate.
Mass shootings remain relatively uncommon in Thailand, but the country has seen several high-profile gun attacks in recent years, increasing concerns over firearm violence and the enforcement of gun laws.