BANGKOK (AFP) – Thailand will toughen its gun possession and drug laws, the Interior Ministry said yesterday, following the nursery massacre of 36 people – including 24 children – in the kingdom’s worst mass killing.
The country was left reeling after an ex-police officer forced his way into a small nursery in northeastern Na Klang last week, murdering 24 children and their teacher before killing his wife, their child and himself.
The attack was carried out with a knife and a legally acquired gun, and while Thailand has a huge number of firearms in circulation – one estimate suggesting there are as many as one in seven firearms per person – mass shootings are rare.
Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said yesterday the government would require tougher qualifications for new gun owners, as well as ramping up checks on existing firearm holders.
“Our new qualification will include mental health reports, we will be examining whether we need proof from doctors,” he told a press conference, without giving further details.
Gun applicants are already required to undergo a background check and must present a valid reason for ownership – such as hunting or self-defence.
“For example, if officials want to possess a gun, their supervisors have to ratify that the individual has no record of substance abuse or bad temper,” Anupong said.
