Thailand Orders 60-Day Gun Law Review, Suspends New Permits After 2 Deadly Shootings
Updated
Updated · KSL.com · Aug 12
Thailand Orders 60-Day Gun Law Review, Suspends New Permits After 2 Deadly Shootings
3 articles · Updated · KSL.com · Aug 12
Summary
Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an urgent review of Thailand’s gun rules, froze new firearm purchase permits and told the Interior Ministry to draft legal changes within 60 days.
Two shootings in Nonthaburi province drove the move: a student killed at least eight people and wounded more than 20 on Friday, and a former lawmaker was later arrested over an office attack that killed one person.
The package also immediately halts subsidized welfare gun programs for officials, while planned changes would tighten firearms data collection, curb gun trading and raise penalties for offenders.
Thailand’s civilian gun ownership is among Asia’s highest at about 15 guns per 100 people, and critics say weak enforcement, resale of subsidized weapons and possible licensing corruption have blunted past crackdowns.