Karunphon agrees with strict gun control measures but opposes the government’s issuance of a draft emergency decree bypassing Parliament instead of enacting a bill, citing constitutional conflicts.
On 7 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Karunphon Thiansuwan, a party-list MP and deputy spokesperson of the Prachachon Party, commented on the government’s plan to issue a draft emergency decree amending the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks, and Imitation Firearms Act of 1947. He said the Prachachon Party recognizes the importance of addressing gun violence, which harms the public, and agrees with the goal of reducing firearms and violence in society. However, they view the draft emergency decree as the government’s attempt to circumvent parliamentary mechanisms.
Karunphon emphasized that although he agrees with the principle that applicants for firearms licenses (Por 4) must undergo firearms training and mental health checks as stipulated in the draft decree, he is concerned about practical implementation. For example, when requiring renewal of Por 4 licenses, how will existing Por 4 license holders be treated? Will lifetime licenses be allowed to continue, applying the decree only to new applicants? Or will all previous licenses be revoked, forcing everyone to renew? Furthermore, there is no clear procedure yet on how to handle multiple firearms per person for license renewal without compromising safety or opening opportunities for corruption during inspections.
Although the intent behind gun control is positive, Karunphon believes issuing a draft emergency decree instead of a bill is not justified by an unavoidable urgent public safety emergency as required by Article 172 of the Constitution. Criminals do not care whether they legally hold a firearms license or not. Therefore, this decree will not effectively address gun violence nor serve public safety under the constitutional conditions.
Karunphon said gun ownership is a sensitive issue that attracts nationwide public interest, whether supporting or opposing it. The government should submit a bill to Parliament to allow comprehensive public consultation and thorough scrutiny by representatives. Since the government holds a parliamentary majority, it can expedite the normal legislative process efficiently. The government should not force the issue by issuing an emergency decree that risks violating the Constitution.
Karunphon warned that if the government insists on issuing this draft emergency decree to avoid parliamentary scrutiny, the Prachachon Party will consider using Article 173 of the Constitution to gather MPs’ signatures and petition the Constitutional Court to review whether the decree complies with the conditions of Article 172 of the Constitution.