Lawyer Songkan filed a complaint with the Parliamentary Military Committee accusing Prime Minister Anutin of interfering with the legislative branch by ordering the suspension of firearm use, despite the firearms being legally purchased and holders having P.4 licenses. He dubbed the government "Wind-up Mouse."
At 11:30 a.m. on 21 Aug 2026 at the Parliament, Mr. Rachen Trakulwiang, party-list MP from the New Alternative Party and member of the Parliamentary Military Committee, received a letter from Lawyer Songkan Achariyasub, a well-known attorney and legal expert. The letter requested an investigation into the Prime Minister's suspension of issuing firearm purchase permits (P.3). Songkan stated this action violates law, as public law principles under the Firearms Act and constitutional law prohibit the government from issuing regulations that unlawfully infringe on citizens' rights.
Furthermore, qualified citizens can apply to local registrars to possess and use firearms for self-defense of life and property. However, Prime Minister Anutin has suspended this process, overstepping legislative authority under the Firearms Act and constitutional law. Additionally, the Prime Minister and Ministry of Interior have implemented a policy requiring renewal of firearm possession licenses (P.4) every three years. This retroactive approach relates to the outdated 1924 Firearms Act, now 92 years old, and burdens approximately 6.2 million legally licensed firearms owners who must renew their P.4 licenses every three years.
Songkan said that regarding the state's measures to collect firearms and P.4 licenses from holders, currently under public consultation by the Ministry of Interior, many license holders respond by messaging the abbreviation “K.” They believe their guns were legally purchased with their own money, and the law states that P.4 licenses are valid for the entire period of firearm ownership. Yet, there are attempts to temporarily confiscate citizens' firearms. He questioned how the Prime Minister plans to handle over 6 million firearms under these measures. Also, the Cabinet has not fully informed the public about firearm possession licenses under Section 7, which applies to firearm owners. Under Section 8(2) of the Firearms Act, if a person lacks a firearm carry permit (P.12), they may use Section 8 in urgent necessary circumstances.
"I therefore deemed it necessary to submit this matter to the Parliament Speaker and the Parliamentary Military Committee to discuss and halt these measures. On 24 Aug, the Ombudsman has scheduled me to provide explanations to consider forwarding this case to the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders to prosecute the Prime Minister for violating citizens' rights. I urge Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, who plans to retroactively apply a 92-year-old law, to reconsider this important issue as it affects the entire voter base of the Bhumjaithai Party and coalition parties. Regarding measures to suspend P.4 licenses and temporarily seize legally purchased firearms worth hundreds of thousands of baht each, I ask: which citizen would willingly surrender them?" Songkan said.
Songkan then took out a cage containing toy mice and showed them to the media. He said he nicknamed the government "Wind-up Mouse" because the Prime Minister should be addressing issues like online gambling and illegal firearms, but instead neglects these problems. He emphasized that the Prime Minister, who must exercise executive power, is overstepping legislative authority by ordering suspensions, while the Prime Minister himself must abide by the law. Songkan has received many complaints. He then gave three toy mice representing Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn, and Director-General Naruetcha Kosasivilai of the Department of Provincial Administration, to Mr. Rachen to present to the Parliament Speaker. The three mice were wound up and released on the floor as a symbolic gesture. Mr. Rachen stated that the committee will accept the complaint and forward it to the Cabinet for further action.