According to local media and police, the student attacker was under the age of nineteen and a student at the same school. The horrific shooting sent shockwaves through the school. Fifteen children present at the scene were seriously injured in the deadly attack.
Growing Gun Culture in Thailand
Despite strict gun control laws in Thailand, such violent incidents are recurring, raising serious questions about security. According to reports, Thailand has approximately 10 million firearms owned by citizens, the highest number in the region.
This means that at least one in every seven people in the country owns a weapon. Despite previous promises by the government to tighten gun laws, shootings are recurring in the country.
Previous School Attacks
This is not the first time a Thai school has been rocked by such a deadly shooting. Earlier in February, a teenager opened fire at a school in the southern part of the country, killing the school principal and injuring two students.
At that time, police acted swiftly, shooting and immediately arresting the teenager on the spot. Such incidents prove that despite numerous government promises of safety, school campuses are no longer completely safe for children.
Concerns about Law and Order and Security
This latest incident has forced the Thai government to re-examine security regulations. The high number of gun owners in the region has raised ongoing concerns about the safety of citizens.
The shooter, who was under the age of nineteen, has shocked Thailand. The failure to fully implement strict gun control laws is a major reason for such repeated incidents.