People's Party MPs are preparing to submit a draft law to tighten safety in schools and families, expressing concern that the rising frequency of incidents may lead to imitative behavior. They call for a cleansing of the firearms possession system to address this issue promptly and effectively.
On 9 Sep 2026 GMT+7 at the Parliament, People's Party MPs led by Ms. Nattaya Boonpakdee, party-list MP, along with Mr. Theerasak Jiratrat, Ms. Phasarin Ramwong, Bangkok MP for Bang Sue-Dusit district, and Ms. Narumas Piambanjerd, Chonburi MP for district 6, held a press conference expressing condolences following a violent incident at a school in Chonburi province.
Mr. Theerasak stated that violence in educational institutions, both verbal and criminal, repeatedly occurs in Thai society. Although the Ministry of Education has attempted to implement response measures, it may be beyond capacity if schools are left to handle the problem alone. This issue requires the will and integrated cooperation of multiple agencies, including the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and the Ministry of Interior. The People's Party has drafted a broad safety law for schools to be enforced nationwide, carefully designed to avoid being a financial bill, enabling prompt legislative action.
Ms. Phasarin said the People's Party has already submitted a draft law on protection for victims of domestic violence to the Parliament, currently awaiting the Prime Minister's endorsement. She highlighted the continuously rising statistics of domestic and intimate partner violence, emphasizing five key points: centering the victim rather than focusing solely on mediation; incorporating the principle of Battered Person Syndrome, allowing prosecutors to dismiss cases where self-defense was necessary against chronic abuse; establishing a victim protection fund; and enhancing officials' powers to issue immediate emergency protection orders.
Ms. Narumas stressed the role of firearms as a trigger, especially where perpetrators are officials authorized to carry guns in their duties. She proposed reforming standardized mental health and readiness assessments, as well as strict oversight of firearm access and storage, to prevent the use of service weapons in personal conflicts. The People's Party emphasized that the right to possess or carry firearms must come with responsibility and rigorous risk evaluation to prevent repeated losses in Thai society.
Furthermore, Ms. Narumas highlighted the critical trigger of firearm use by individuals authorized to possess and carry weapons. She called for a systematic review of mental health and readiness evaluation measures before granting firearm carrying permits, with clear, transparent, and verifiable criteria. For officials authorized to carry firearms in their duties, there must be a strict system to oversee access and storage to prevent firearms from being used to resolve personal disputes. She reiterated that the right to possess firearms must be accompanied by responsibility for societal safety.