Siripha, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democrat Party, urged Prime Minister Anutin to approach the gun problem with wisdom, suggesting a zero-based system with strict screening, and warned against failure like that of cannabis legalization policy.
On 12 Aug 2026 GMT+7, Ms. Siripha Intawichian, Deputy Spokesperson of the Democrat Party, commented on the Prime Minister's approach to the gun issue. She noted that the Prime Minister's recent interview suggested new legislation that would prohibit gun owners from taking their guns out of their homes 100%, requiring even sports shooters to leave guns only at shooting ranges, and forbidding homeowners from shooting even during a home invasion for self-defense.
"I want the Prime Minister to use wisdom in carefully pushing the new Gun Control Act, with reasonable and appropriate regulation rather than reacting emotionally in the moment, which undermines citizens' fundamental rights to self-defense and sports opportunities. Priority should be given to a system that screens gun owners effectively, with an efficient licensing system, enhanced background checks, mental and physical health tests for gun owners and officials regularly, verified proof of necessity for ownership, and a 'Set Zero' approach requiring all gun owners to report and enter a newly effective database system, along with serious crackdown on illegal firearms," she said.
Ms. Siripha also stated that the government should not allow this legislation to fail like the cannabis policy, which despite the Ministry of Public Health's regulations for medical use, in practice, cannabis remains widely and freely traded.
She personally tested purchasing cannabis from a shop in front of the Sino-Thai Building and found it could be bought without a doctor's prescription, and the seller was not a medical expert, contrary to what the government and ministry have claimed.