The Democrat Party spokesperson warned the Prime Minister not to lose direction by halting firearm purchases and urged a crackdown on the root cause of illegal and homemade guns flooding the internet.
On 13 August 2026, Mr. Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesperson for the Democrat Party, commented on the government's strict policy to control and suspend all firearm licenses, including for police and state officials. He said that although the policy appears well-intentioned to reduce violence, in reality it severely misaddresses the problem and creates safety inequalities for the public.
The Democrat Party spokesperson expressed condolences over the shocking incident late on 12 August near the Father Khun Thot Monument in Dan Khun Thot District, Nakhon Ratchasima, during the "Chim Shop Chai" event. The violence was sparked by youths wielding homemade shotguns who attacked and fired at attendees, injuring six people. This clearly shows how easily illegal and homemade guns can be acquired and used brazenly without fear of the law.
Mr. Pongsakorn noted that the real problem with firearms and crime in Thailand is not just legal guns but illegal and homemade guns, which are widespread and frequently involved in incidents. These illegal guns are easily bought online through platforms like X, TikTok, and Facebook, where they are openly reviewed and shipped like normal products, creating a de facto free market for illegal guns. The Prime Minister's remark that online control is difficult should not be an excuse for neglect, as this would allow the black market to grow unchecked.
The Democrat Party spokesperson highlighted the impact of the blanket suspension of licenses, which prevents police—who face daily risks—from properly arming themselves. This situation creates a crisis where criminals possess more guns than police officers. This not only undermines the state's crime-fighting capability but also puts innocent citizens at risk because law enforcement lacks sufficient weapons to protect them.
“The government should not only amend laws targeting legal guns while ignoring illegal firearms. Tightening controls on lawful gun owners but leaving criminals unchecked results in offenders being better armed than state officials. Then who can we rely on for safety?” Mr. Pongsakorn said.
Therefore, the Democrat Party spokesperson urged the Prime Minister to earnestly eradicate illegal guns by integrating efforts between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and cyber police to aggressively sweep online pages and groups trading illegal guns. They should also pressure social media platforms to immediately remove illegal content to break the cycle of illegal and homemade guns and truly restore safety to Thai society.