PM Anutin Blames Stress in School Shooting, Pledges Stricter Gun Laws
A 14-year-old student's shooting at a Nonthaburi school prompted PM Anutin to blame accumulated stress and vow stricter gun laws, while acknowledging the legally registered weapon was accessible at home.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul spoke to foreign media on August 7 at Thepsirin School in Nonthaburi regarding the shooting carried out by a 14-year-old student, stating that multiple factors contributed to the incident, with stress being one of them. When asked why police had not managed the problem of illegal gun carrying in public spaces despite previous government measures, Anutin noted that carrying weapons in public is already illegal in Thailand, but the case involves several other factors. He said authorities must wait for the investigation to conclude and promised the National Police Office would provide a complete report.
Anutin emphasized that as Interior Minister he previously proposed reforms to gun ownership and public carrying regulations, eventually issuing a ministerial announcement banning weapon possession and purchase by non-officials. As Prime Minister, one of his priorities is enacting new and stricter firearms legislation, currently in progress. He stated the incident was not criminal but stemmed from an individual under accumulated stress and depression. The weapon used was legally registered and stored in a home, making it accessible to the child, though Anutin clarified this was not a public-space incident.
Anutin stressed the need to elevate security measures at schools to reassure parents that educational institutions will implement stricter and more effective screening to prevent weapons from entering campuses. He noted that practical measures would not include X-ray machines or weapon detectors for screening every student, as that would be inappropriate. He reaffirmed to foreign media that the government does not permit ordinary citizens to own or carry weapons in public areas, and indicated that youth incidents require examining youth mental health issues, which are often not direct psychiatric conditions but acute emotional episodes triggered by external stimuli.
Shortly after, at 5:10 p.m., Anutin returned to Government House with Police Chief General Kittirat Panpetch and Army Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Natthakitti Chaowanat, where they were expected to discuss measures against illegal weapons.
