Korat gunman owned 5 guns bought under army welfare program

[snoop1130]

Korat gunman owned 5 guns bought under army welfare program

 

Thai army chief Apirat Kongsompong cries during a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand, following last weekend’s shooting rampage by a soldier at a mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, February 11, 2020. REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa

 

Jakrapanth Thomma, the gunman who shot 30 people dead during a rampage in Nakhon Ratchasima over the weekend, owned five legally-registered guns, including three pistols, one shotgun and a rifle, which were all bought under the Army’s “welfare gun” program, Army Commander-in-Chief General Apirat Kongsompong told a news conference this morning (Tuesday).

 

He said that the program should be scrapped as there is no need for army officers to have their own guns, because they are provided with service weapons.  Alternatively, the purchase of the guns by army officers must be more tightly controlled and permission to own a personal gun must be granted by an army general, not a colonel.

 

According to the army chief, Jakrapanth used one of his three pistols to kill his commander and the latter’s mother-in-law during a meeting at her house to settle an unpaid real estate brokerage fee.

 

The welfare gun program is widely practiced by law enforcement agencies and the three armed forces to enable their staff to buy weapons at tax-free prices, which are typically as low as half market prices.  This apparently explains why Jakrapanth could afford to buy five guns.

 

In most cases, guns bought under this program are resold to private individuals at a profit, but still at lower than market prices.  The program is also known as a means to beat the gun import quotas, under which each gun dealer is allocated a very limited quota per year, especially for pistols.

 

The army chief offered his condolences to families of those killed and the injured and promised a career in the army if the victims’ children want to join the service, adding that the army would look after the education of their children. He also apologised to families of the dead and the injured for the tragic incident committed by an army officer, whom he described as a becoming criminal the moment he pulled the trigger.

 

The army chief disclosed that, although army special units were dispatched to the Terminal 21 shopping mall, the scene of the dramatic siege, they were providing backup to the police specialist units, who were responsible for the storming of the mall.

 

The national police chief, Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda, was authorized by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to take command, to prevent confusion and duplication of command.

 

“The police chief and I worked together as junior officers.  We went through several crises together and we treat each other with respect and honour. We respect each other’s decisions,” said General Apirat.

 

He pleaded with critics not to blame the army, because the perpetrator was a serviceman, or for the lax security at the armoury, allowing the gunman to steal guns and ammunition, but to blame him instead.

 

The army chief said that, leading up to the siege, the culprit stole an HK33 assault rifle and ammunition from a sentry, stole more weapons and ammunition from the armoury and killed a sentry before heading to the shopping mall in a stolen vehicle, which was not a Humvee as earlier reported.

 

Source: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/korat-gunman-owned-5-guns-bought-under-army-welfare-program/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2020-02-11

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[Nakmuay887]

7 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

or for the lax security at the armoury, allowing the gunman to steal guns and ammunition,

Pretty sure this was problem #1. Especially considering this is where he easily got the guns he killed the majority of the people with. 

[DrTuner]

Welfare guns. Is that some new form of militant socialism?

[saminoz]

Welfare guns!  Whose welfare exactly?

Unbelievabe Thailand.

Land Of Stupidity

[colinneil]

So according to the army chief, soldiers could buy guns using the army welfare program, and then make money selling them to private individuals for profit.

Crazy bloody crazy, a practice that needs stopped now.

[klauskunkel]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the Army’s “welfare gun” program

A program where you can own a gun for the purpose of enhancing your welfare? Does it come with a video on how the gun will improve one's well-being?

[bluesofa]

8 minutes ago, colinneil said:

So according to the army chief, soldiers could buy guns using the army welfare program, and then make money selling them to private individuals for profit.

Crazy bloody crazy, a practice that needs stopped now.

At the risk of going OT here Colin, it's not the only thing that's 'Crazy bloody crazy'.

Stopping cruise ships and foreigners coming into Thailand for fear of Coronavirus, but allowing citizens of the country where it's now an epidemic to enter Thailand freely. It just shows how scared of the Chinese the government and those them above are.

 

Edited February 12, 2020 by bluesofa

[sammieuk1]

Foodbanks are welfare guns are difficult to digest even in this circus????

[Emdog]

"In most cases, guns bought under this program are resold to private individuals at a profit, but still at lower than market prices."

Army responds to Call of Duty Free....

Maybe lower than market prices but how much did Thai military pay for the guns initially? I can recall some gun purchases for police where paid price was higher than even single individual would pay online.

[DPKANKAN]

13 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Welfare guns. Is that some new form of militant socialism?

Called 'spreading the Army love' to the electorate. " Look we are so good at taking care of our own!! (So they vote for us)".......

[Bangkok Barry]

So there's no register or record of how many guns someone buys, and no question asked about why anyone would want to have five? And that doesn't only apply to Thailand, of course. Guns have one purpose and one purpose only - to maim or kill. Why would anyone need five? Why would anyone need even one?

[IAMHERE]

So there is prograam that enlisted can buy guns and then make money by selling the gun. I thought this guy was upset because he was screwed out of a commision in a money making opportunity. The solution is to now take that money making opportunity from every soldier. The logic boggles.

[Cake Monster]

I dont think that I have ever, in my entire life heard of such a thing as this.

It really goes beyond Stupid, Crazy, Moronic, or any other term.

Enter Army - buy guns sold at discount by said Army to me - resell Guns to anybody who has the money at a profit.

Nobody checks, nobody cares, and I can buy as many Guns as I have the Money for.

Insane, absolutely Insane

 

[justin case]

so they are ok, that they buy guns at lower social price, to be resold, possibly to people without a licence ... just WOOOOW

 

we knew already that government personnel got meds for free they did not need for resale ...

[Iron Tongue]

4 hours ago, Bangkok Barry said:

... Guns have one purpose and one purpose only - to maim or kill. Why would anyone need five? Why would anyone need even one?

Perhaps to shoot small clay discs launched into the sky?  

Strange, I've been shooting firearms for ~30 years and have never maimed or killed anyone.  

 

[gunderhill]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

permission to own a personal gun must be granted by an army general, not a colonel.

Yeah, wonder  "how  much" that will earn the Generals?

[gunderhill]

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The army chief offered his condolences to families of those killed

Why  bother  pal,  your'e the main supplier,  you  don't really give a  fig do you!

[gunderhill]

5 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

A program where you can own a gun for the purpose of enhancing your welfare? Does it come with a video on how the gun will improve one's well-being?

Yes,  simply take aim at someone and ask them if  you are  better than them.

[sattahip]

Some many years ago I remember reading this "welfare" programme was allowed to import 37000 (yes 37,000) pistols. Does this give you some idea of the scale of stupidity?

 

[Beggar]

3 hours ago, Iron Tongue said:

Perhaps to shoot small clay discs launched into the sky?  

Strange, I've been shooting firearms for ~30 years and have never maimed or killed anyone.  

 

Perhaps nobody ever told you that guns are made to kill. Or to you really believe that they are only produced to shoot at clay discs?

[baansgr]

22 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Welfare guns. Is that some new form of militant socialism?

All military and police are exempt from tax...Glock, CZ etc carry hefty import duties...an example A CZ 75 costs about $500 in US, here is 107,000 Baht...own for 5 years and they can sell. Its quite common for police etc to buy sidearms at discounted prices for their friends and family

[steven100]

all this farang garbage talk about you can buy a gun in the US and Thailand and anywhere.

Well, i'd like to add that countries with the most strict gun laws don't experience school shootings or mall massacres ... it just doesn't happen because nut cases cannot get a gun.

 

Thank god for common sense ....   in some countries ... 

[roo860]

11 minutes ago, steven100 said:

all this farang garbage talk about you can buy a gun in the US and Thailand and anywhere.

Well, i'd like to add that countries with the most strict gun laws don't experience school shootings or mall massacres ... it just doesn't happen because nut cases cannot get a gun.

 

Thank god for common sense ....   in some countries ... 

One country did experience a school shooting, then changed the law, banning the legal ownership of hand guns.

Edited February 12, 2020 by roo860

[Susco]

23 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

there is no need for army officers to have their own guns, because they are provided with service weapons. 

If I'm not mistaken, it were those service provided weapons that were used in the rampage, so what does it matters that he owned more private weapons?

[MunkyBoogar]

15 minutes ago, steven100 said:

all this farang garbage talk about you can buy a gun in the US and Thailand and anywhere.

Well, i'd like to add that countries with the most strict gun laws don't experience school shootings or mall massacres ... it just doesn't happen because nut cases cannot get a gun.

 

Thank god for common sense ....   in some countries ... 

Japan has strict gun laws but the Mafia still manages to get guns into the country. Who needs a gun when you can mow people down with a vehicle and then stab them with a long blade. Or maybe use Sarin gas or poison the curry at a social event. Nut cases do not need a gun to kill and making gun ownership illegal does not prevent people for obtaining them.

 

Private gun ownership had nothing to do with this shooting. The Col and his mother-in-law were with the Col's gun as a result of them running a real estate scam.

 

 

Edited February 12, 2020 by MunkyBoogar

[steven100]

1 minute ago, roo860 said:

One country did experience a school shooting, then changed the law, banning the legal ownership of hand guns.

Australia did experience that tragic Phillip island shooting some 30 years ago, and remember the shooting rampage in Europe on that island years ago, but america has mass shootings every few weeks .... go figure  

[steven100]

1 minute ago, MunkyBoogar said:

Japan has strict gun laws but the Mafia still manages to get guns into the country. Who needs a gun when you can mow people down with a vehicle and then stab them with a long blade. Or maybe use Sarin gas or poison the curry at a social event. Nut cases do not need a gun to kill and making gun ownership illegal does not prevent people for obtaining them.

 

 

does Japan have mass mall shootings   ?

[roo860]

2 minutes ago, steven100 said:

Australia did experience that tragic Phillip island shooting some 30 years ago, and remember the shooting rampage in Europe on that island years ago, but america has mass shootings every few weeks .... go figure  

It was the UK, after the shooting in Dunblane, Scotland.

[MunkyBoogar]

Just now, steven100 said:

does Japan have mass mall shootings   ?

Did Japan have a Sarin gas attack? Like I said, nutjobs do not need a gun.

[steven100]

4 minutes ago, MunkyBoogar said:

Japan has strict gun laws but the Mafia still manages to get guns into the country. Who needs a gun when you can mow people down with a vehicle and then stab them with a long blade. Or maybe use Sarin gas or poison the curry at a social event. Nut cases do not need a gun to kill and making gun ownership illegal does not prevent people for obtaining them.

 

Private gun ownership had nothing to do with this shooting. The Col and his mother-in-law were with the Col's gun as a result of them running a real estate scam.

 

 

you have the makings of a typical american gun lobbiest ....  but if your not i applogize.