Three Shooting Sports Worry Over Gun Transport Ban

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a cabinet clampdown on firearm use, proposing a complete ban on removing guns from homes with no exceptions even for athletes. This threatens shooting sports disciplines that depend on firearms as competition equipment, prompting questions from the sports community and media about how athletes can train and compete. Yuthana Phanitphichaitvong, president of the Thai Shooting Association, and Chaloet Chantrabuksaha, secretary-general of the Thai Sport Shooting Association, expressed serious concern in interviews. Yuthana stated that Olympic sport shooting competitors are deeply troubled by the order. Competitive shooting is an Olympic sport where Thai athletes have won medals at Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games. Shooters disassemble their guns, store them in locked bags in vehicle trunks, and transport them only to firing ranges—this is lawful practice, not carrying weapons. Athletes have begun restricting their activities ahead of next month's Asian Games and fear breaking the law if they train. Chaloet explained that sport shooters must transport guns to training sessions to achieve excellence; this is not casual carrying. The association has produced Southeast Asian Games medalists, world champions, and two women ranked number two globally—all achievements requiring rigorous training. He urged the prime minister to understand that if shooters cannot transport guns to training, they cannot compete at all. Athletes traveling to national championships or provincial competitions must fly, not drive, making the ban impossible to follow. Foreign athletes bringing guns to competitions raise additional legal questions. The associations now fear leaving expensive guns (valued like cars) at ranges without liability protection. Chaloet noted that shooting associations lack legal authority to issue exemption certificates—police ultimately decide. Although associations verify athletes' clean criminal records and ensure safe weapon handling per sports law, when the highest official orders such a ban, no government agency will listen. International competitions are already booked with foreign athletes arriving to compete; banning gun transport may violate laws and harm Thailand's shooting sports reputation if left unresolved.