Some gun dealers have switched businesses to survive
Loaves of sourdough bread now fill the display window of Suchart and Friends Gun, a firearms shop-turned-bakery in Bangkok's old quarter where pistols and rifles once lined the glass case.
Gun shops in Bangkok's historic district have been forced to shift operations to baking, in response to a ban on importing firearms following a series of mass shootings. Owner Warintorn Boonyachai of Suchart and Friends Gun, Bakery, expressed hope for lifting the ban, but acknowledged that selling guns is less tiring than baking bread.
The suspension of firearm permit issuance, proposed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, has further exacerbated the situation, potentially driving some gun owners towards the black market. Thailand has around 10.3 million firearms, with nearly 6 million registered and 4 million unregistered. Industry worth about 2 billion baht.
The government's proposed measures are criticized for not addressing crime at the right places, as they may force individuals to resort to illegal means.
Written by urgent.news from Bangkok Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
