Former MP shoots council leader in Thailand after school shooting

In Thailand, chaos erupted following a tragic school shooting that occurred on a Friday, where a 14-year-old boy killed six people, including his grandparents, before taking his own life. This incident marked the deadliest mass shooting in the country in nearly four years and reignited discussions on gun control in a nation with one of the highest rates of civilian gun ownership in Southeast Asia. Just days later, on a Monday, Chalong Riewraeng, a former Member of Parliament, stormed the local council offices in Nonthaburi, the same province where the school shooting took place, and shot the President of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organisation, police colonel Thongchai Yenprasert. The attack left both the official and his driver seriously injured and prompted immediate police action, resulting in Riewraeng's arrest. The motives behind both the school shooting and the attack on the council leader are under investigation, as authorities grapple with the implications of these violent events. In response to the school shooting, Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced intentions to tighten gun control laws, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations on firearm possession and use. The Education Ministry also plans to implement new safety protocols in schools, including mental health screenings and emergency response drills, to prevent future tragedies. The recent violence has sparked a national debate on the effectiveness of current gun laws and the need for comprehensive reforms to ensure public safety.