Ex-Police Chief Defends Teachers Carrying Guns for School Safety
A former police chief's proposal to arm teachers for school defense has reignited debate over student safety in Thailand, with experts warning the idea requires rigorous safeguards around training, storage, and emergency response before sch
Following the shooting incident at Thepsirin School in Nonthaburi, Thai society has again asked who will protect children if police cannot arrive in time. Napdol Kannika, speaking on August 9, praised former police chief Rewat Klinertsaeng for boldly proposing that teachers be allowed to carry weapons for school defense, though the idea remains controversial. Napdol notes that Rewat's proposal is valuable for highlighting the critical gap between when an attack begins and when police arrive—a gap policymakers must address. However, Napdol argues that the conversation should move beyond simply asking "should teachers have guns?" to asking "how can Thailand build a system so teachers and children never face firearms in the first place?" He emphasizes that introducing weapons into school environments requires extremely careful consideration of training, storage, access control, liability, and how police can distinguish attackers from defenders during emergencies. Napdol stresses that this is not a rejection of Rewat's proposal, but rather an acknowledgment that schools are sacred spaces where parents entrust their most precious possessions each day. Any move to allow firearms in schools must address critical legal and operational questions before implementation.
