Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn is set to meet with the Department of Provincial Administration and the Council of State to amend the Firearm Act, implementing strict measures that connect the entire system, ensuring information is known from purchase through to possession, with plans to require license renewal every three years.
At 06:30 on 12 August 2026 at Sanam Luang, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt spoke about amending the Firearm Act of 1947. He said discussions will be held with the Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, and the Council of State, incorporating public feedback. The current law has been in place for decades since 1947, but circumstances have changed. Previously, control was analog, with district chiefs approving permits issued on paper, without linking gun shops, buyers, possessors, and transfers into a cohesive system. The process was simple but now requires oversight. A system must be designed from the start, including firearm import procedures and inventory checks at gun shops. Foreign gun shops follow bank-like principles, but the system must be stricter due to the danger of firearms. Responsibility lies in knowing who is sold a firearm and monitoring it thereafter. The question of license validity arises, as current permits have no expiry. The Prime Minister has instructed that licenses should have a validity period, proposed to be three years, and transfers must be controlled. Currently, firearms are sometimes pawned, which is illegal since firearms are registered property that cannot be pawned; possession transfers to the pawner, effectively making the firearm illegal. Use must also be controlled, including at shooting ranges. Moreover, ammunition should be proportional to firearms owned, as now ammunition quantities exceed firearms, revealing system weaknesses seen in various cases where one gun holds 30-40 rounds. Thus, stricter controls are essential, following international standards.
When asked if firearm possession licenses will be issued similarly to driver's licenses, Pakorn replied that it is necessary. Buying a gun abroad involves detailed assessments, including proper handling posture and finger placement off the trigger. They closely observe behavior and take high responsibility because they share the duty with authorities to maintain social order. Firearms are not pens that can be casually sold; due to their dangerous and weaponizable nature, strict controls are essential.
Regarding unregistered transfers where the final possessor is unclear, creating loopholes in firearm possession, Pakorn said all loopholes must be closed. Past problems have been studied by teams from the Department of Provincial Administration and the Council of State to identify and seal these gaps. Currently, the system is manual and fragmented, making it unclear if a Permit 3 issued corresponds to an actual Permit 4 or if documents are lost, increasing error risks. The Prime Minister mandates real-time tracking: once a firearm is purchased, stock levels must be updated immediately, and a possession license issued. This process will identify firearm and ammunition owners and quantities, with ongoing monitoring. Tax compliance on firearm sales will also be checked. This integrated system is being preliminarily discussed with the Revenue Department.
Asked if a ministerial regulation will be issued pending full legal amendment, Pakorn said there may be a temporary ministerial announcement. However, discussions with the Department of Provincial Administration and the Council of State are needed to determine the approach since lawmaking takes time. Temporary regulations are necessary during the amendment process.