Fixed-term licences eyed
The government is considering introducing fixed-term firearms possession licences as part of a comprehensive overhaul of Thailand's 1947 firearms law.
Thailand's government is contemplating the implementation of fixed-term firearms possession licences as part of a major revision to the nation's 1947 firearms legislation. Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt revealed that the administration would seek input from various departments before presenting amendments to the law, which has remained in force for several decades.
The current system is predominantly manual, depending on district officials and paper licences, with insufficient connections between importers, gun shops, buyers, owners, and transfers. Pakorn announced plans to replace this outdated system with a real-time electronic framework that would monitor firearms from importation to sales, ownership, and transfers.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed officials to contemplate time-limited possession licences, with an initial period of three years being proposed. Stricter controls would be imposed on the import, sale, transfer, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition. Dealers would be held accountable for their sales, and gun owners would face increased responsibility.
Additionally, shooting ranges and ammunition would be subject to these controls, with quantities matched proportionally to the number of firearms. The Revenue Department would verify tax payments on gun sales. Temporary ministerial regulations may be issued while the law is being amended. All current firearms-carrying permits have expired, meaning no one in Thailand can legally carry a gun at present.
The cabinet also decided to suspend the issuance of purchase permits until further notice, effectively prohibiting people from buying guns in the country, given its vast stock of firearms. Anutin addressed controversy surrounding his previous remarks about not shooting intruders to protect property, stating that any shooting would ultimately be assessed by a court.
He clarified that his intention was to discourage people from firearms, as both victims and gun owners could face serious consequences.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
