Prime Minister Anutin Proposes Stricter Thai Gun Control Laws

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced plans to introduce stricter gun control legislation after a teenager killed at least eight people, including his grandparents, on August 7, 2026. The attack occurred at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Nonthaburi province, where the shooter also died.

Anutin stated that the new law will restrict the carrying of firearms specifically to government officials on duty. This policy shift follows a pattern of mass shootings in Thailand, a country with one of the highest civilian gun ownership rates in the region.

The Government of Thailand is currently reviewing licensing and background check procedures. These measures address criticisms from academics and officials regarding systemic failures, specifically the lack of mental health screenings and the current legal ability of 20-year-olds to possess weapons.