When it comes to provoked anger, many incidents end in violent harm. But if we add the variable of a 'gun,' possession by one side can turn confrontations into gunfire that may immediately cost lives.
From various mass shootings in Thailand to recent fatal gun cases, despite countless lessons learned, questions about gun ownership laws in Thailand remain frequently raised. Amid doubts about gun possession, it should be noted that although Thailand's gun laws are not extremely strict, they are not lax either.
Therefore, the issue is not merely tightening gun laws, but examining how existing systems in Thailand enable 'Thais to possess guns' so extensively. With illegal guns widespread, welfare guns creating legal loopholes, and a strong local gun culture, how can we address the gun problem?
In fact, Thailand's gun ownership laws may not be as lenient as some think. Officially, guns can be purchased only from licensed dealers in limited quantities, who themselves have annual sale quotas. Buyers must be at least 20 years old and can only buy guns for legitimate reasons such as self-defense, sports, or hunting.
Although legal fees are not high, import quota restrictions for gun shops drive market prices up to tens or hundreds of thousands of baht per gun, and the purchasing process may take up to six months to complete.
However, according to TIME, citing the University of Sydney School of Public Health in 2017, Thailand was estimated to have over 10 million firearms, with only 6 million registered properly. This equates to roughly one gun per seven people, though some individuals may own multiple firearms.
Additionally, Thailand has the highest gun ownership rate in Southeast Asia and was once ranked 15th worldwide for gun-related deaths, surpassing countries like Russia and Pakistan.
Many have heard of 'Thai-made guns,' referring to firearms built or modified privately without authorization, commonly seen as homemade pistols, pen guns, or shotgun variants, often crafted from steel pipes and long used for hunting or self-defense.
Currently, toy guns like BB guns and blank guns, considered toys, are also modified by changing barrels and enhancing capabilities to fire live ammunition. These realistic-looking guns are gaining popularity.
Some individuals take advantage of this to manufacture firearms themselves and sell them easily online, making them accessible to anyone. However, such guns are illegal under the 1947 Firearms Act for unauthorized manufacture.
The welfare gun program allows government officials to buy guns 'cheaper than market price' to address issues.
Due to insufficient budgets and outdated official firearms, some state officers must purchase personal guns because government-issued weapons are obsolete, ineffective, or sometimes unavailable.
Lower-ranking officials cannot afford expensive guns, so the welfare program reduces fees and import taxes, lowering prices by over half. For example, the 'Inspector Bank' gun, which actually sells for 74,000 baht on the market, is priced at 28,800 baht under the welfare program.
However, this program is a loophole allowing guns to flow out of the official system into civilian hands. Welfare guns can be resold or transferred to civilians after five years under certain conditions, effectively feeding firearms into the civilian market continuously, contributing to widespread gun prevalence in Thailand.
The significant price difference creates profit opportunities, as some officials with easier access to permits buy welfare guns, hold them for five years, then resell in the secondhand market at average prices, earning profits of 20,000 to 30,000 baht.
There was a case of a female nurse who bought 21 welfare guns between 2019 and 2020, and an additional one in 2022.
Some Thais grow up with easy access to guns due to their abundance from the reasons described. In certain localities, conflicts often end with gunfire, and local influential figures carry firearms as symbols of power and prestige.
Some villagers view guns as necessary for protecting life and property, possibly due to distrust in state security systems. When justice is hard to access and law enforcement is slower than bullets, people rely on guns.
Looking deeper, Thai society also faces questions about contributing to children's familiarity with deadly weapons, such as annual Children's Day events featuring gun displays and shooting demonstrations.
Today, we must reconsider legal reforms from purchase permissions, possession, to tracking firearms in circulation and removing illegal guns from the system.
Starting with reducing the number of guns in circulation, the government should temporarily suspend issuing gun purchase permits (Por 3 cards) to control firearm quantity and cancel gifting guns as rewards in official ceremonies.
Furthermore, the welfare gun program should be reviewed to identify positions truly needing firearms for duties, and close loopholes that allow resale or transfer, to prevent the program from becoming a profit channel rather than assistance.
For firearms outside the system, such as illegal guns, unregistered guns, or inherited firearms, there should be a 'gun amnesty' policy exempting penalties if surrendered or registered within a defined period (e.g., 100–120 days), possibly with state compensation to encourage surrender.
Another approach is building a forensic database by testing and recording characteristics like barrel rifling and cartridge case marks of registered guns, enabling rapid comparison and tracing of firearms after incidents.
Ultimately, after countless losses and repeated lessons, the government and authorities must seriously discuss solutions, not just manage public sentiment after tragic events, but urgently address structural problems.
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