The Prime Minister rushed to the scene of the shooting at Thepsirin School, ordered psychological support for the victims, insisted that the parents must face legal proceedings to prevent setting a precedent, and called for legal reforms to allow officials to carry firearms only while on duty.
On 7 August 2026 at 12:00 p.m. at the Government House, Anutin Charnvirakul, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, spoke about the shooting incident at Thepsirin School in Nonthaburi Province. He stated that he had instructed the Deputy Minister of Interior to visit the area, with involvement from the provincial governor, police, and medical teams already on site. He also urged the Minister of Public Health to promptly deploy a team from the Department of Mental Health to provide psychological care to the injured, the families of the deceased, and the students who were shocked by the incident, even if they were not physically harmed. He emphasized the need for full support in this care.
When asked if he would personally visit the scene, the Prime Minister said it was necessary to see for himself and understand the situation. He acknowledged that although the incident ended, it was an event no one wanted to happen but did. He stressed the urgency to fix the situation to prevent recurrence. He reaffirmed his stance against pressures to relax firearm carrying restrictions, a position he has held consistently since serving as Minister of Interior. He said this incident serves as an answer and requested not to be approached again on this matter.
Asked about the problem of illegal firearms, the Prime Minister agreed, stating that controlling registered firearms and illegal guns alike requires strict inspection and law enforcement. He plans to propose new legislation on firearms. Previously, he could only order bans on buying, possessing, and carrying guns outside residences but lacked sufficient authority to amend laws. Now, he believes he has enough influence to revise gun laws to prevent firearms from becoming tools for unstable individuals. Only state officials on duty should be permitted to carry and use guns.
When asked about reports linking the perpetrator’s pressure within the school, the Prime Minister advised against drawing conclusions at this time. Police, forensic teams, and related agencies must investigate how such events arose and seek solutions. He emphasized that children carrying loaded firearms into school is unacceptable. The child could not have purchased the weapon themselves; it must belong to a parent or guardian. Therefore, legal action must be taken against the parents to prevent setting a bad example. Whether the child is prosecuted is their matter, but parents and adults must supervise and prevent children from accessing such deadly weapons.
When asked about concerns over copycat behavior, the Prime Minister said, "Please don't ask about this. We do not want copycat incidents to occur, and I have already given instructions regarding this matter."