Deputy PM Seeks Stricter Gun Laws Using Foreign Model

Deputy Prime Minister Pokhorn Nilpraband has announced plans to revise the Firearms Act of 1947 through consultations with the Interior Ministry and the Office of the Council of State. The current law, unchanged since 1947, relies on an outdated analog system where district officers approve permits and issue paper licenses with no coordination between gun shops, buyers, owners, and sellers. Pokhorn explained that the new system must track firearms from import through ownership and use, mirroring stricter international standards similar to banking protocols but with greater rigor due to the lethal nature of weapons.

The government proposes making licenses valid for three years instead of indefinitely, implementing rigorous transfer controls, and monitoring usage. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed the adoption of these measures to prevent firearms from being used as collateral for loans—legally prohibited since guns are registered property. The new system would also require closer supervision of shooting ranges and strict correlation between firearms and ammunition, as current regulations allow far more ammunition than guns in circulation. Pokhorn stressed that gun ownership demands high responsibility from dealers and owners alike, with thorough behavioral assessment of purchasers, similar to foreign gun shop procedures.

To prevent loopholes in ownership transfers, Pokhorn stated that all gaps must be closed and real-time verification implemented. Once a firearm is purchased, it must be immediately registered with the new owner details, creating continuous monitoring throughout the system. The reforms would also cross-check with the Revenue Department to ensure proper taxation of firearms sales. Currently the system is entirely manual and decentralized, making errors frequent and tracking difficult, which is why the Prime Minister mandated digital real-time verification to create a fully integrated national firearms registration system.