The government has announced stricter nationwide controls on firearm licences, with an immediate suspension of public carry permits. This move aims to enhance public safety and mitigate potential threats, with violations resulting in severe penalties, including up to five years in jail. Caretaker Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has directed authorities to rigorously enforce these measures by revising the entire regulatory system.

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On 19 February, the Department of Provincial Administration issued an urgent directive to improve gun control across all dimensions. Local registrars are now required to intensify scrutiny of firearm licence applicants and conduct comprehensive background checks. This initiative includes examining applicants’ behavior and associations to prevent any potential illegal activities.

The suspension of public carry permits, effective since 20 December 2023, will continue indefinitely. Officials are prohibited from issuing carry permits to individuals as a measure to curb crime and public violence. The government emphasized that carrying a firearm in public without cause is a serious offense, punishable under existing laws.

Those already holding a firearm possession licence must comply by keeping weapons secured at their residence. This rule is in place to ensure firearms are only available for protection at home, unless in cases of urgent necessity. Violators may face imprisonment, fines, or both, under specified legal sections, reported Khaosod.

Key Takeaways

• New directives enforce stricter firearm licence scrutiny and background checks.

• Public carry permits remain suspended to decrease risks of violence.

• Violation of these measures results in significant legal penalties.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · Khaosod · 20 Feb 2026

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great news! but I have an inkling that many will disregard the law, unfortunately.

This is a move in the right direction!

But who will enforce it?

15 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

great news! but I have an inkling that many will disregard the law, unfortunately.

Those who are disregarding the law, eventually end up in prison.

The people that register their guns are usually not the problem. Anyone intent on doing harm could care less about the laws.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The suspension of public carry permits, effective since 20 December 2023,

Would that include off duty police officers........

Only in non US countries can you read comments without a single person shrieking at the top of their lungs about their gun "rights" under a constitution. American here. What a relief to see some actual common sense. What a relief to be living here. Meanwhile massacres in the US happen almost weekly. I agree that the Thai general public has no real need to walk around with guns, but I also agree that people who commit crimes don't give a rat's ɑss about gun laws. Somehere in between are momentary acts of anger and crimes of passion which I think this law may curb. Angry people without guns are not so deadly. So (my opinion) you can affect the statistical likelihood of gun crime by keeping all lawful guns off the street. It has to be better than the US if the overall climate is one of restraint rather than rabid insistence on walking around armed.

21 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The suspension of public carry permits, effective since 20 December 2023, will continue indefinitely. Officials are prohibited from issuing carry permits to individuals as a measure to curb crime and public violence. The government emphasized that carrying a firearm in public without cause is a serious offense, punishable under existing laws.

There haven't been any civilian carry permits issued for more than two years and, as this article says, carrying a firearm in public without cause is already punishable under existing laws.

Yet there have been (as since the dawn of time here) almost daily incidents of people using guns to shoot / threaten others, often after a drinking session, or in a road rage incident. Many (most) of those guns are illegal.

Legally-held guns invariably cost their owners a great deal of money, so I can't see any government funding a buy back programme. And if they tell owners to hand them in for token payments of a couple of thousand baht, I imagine there'll be a flood of 'lost' guns making their way into the unlicensed marked.

20 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

great news! but I have an inkling that many will disregard the law, unfortunately.

I agree - and if someone has a gun and wants to use it against another person they will not worry at th fact they do not have a permit to carry

Guns are good. This is a scary move by Anutin. It sounds like he has an inkling of future unrest.

5 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

Those who are disregarding the law, eventually end up in prison.

What drugs are you on...this is Thailand.

For thise who don't comprehend, it is only for carrying a gun....not a ban on owning/purchasing/etc...and we know thais will ignore a ban on carrying.

18 hours ago, jcmj said:

The people that register their guns are usually not the problem. Anyone intent on doing harm could care less about the laws.

This is true in most places. Legal owners account for a very small percentage of violent incidents in civilized society.

14 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

There haven't been any civilian carry permits issued for more than two years and, as this article says, carrying a firearm in public without cause is already punishable under existing laws.

Yet there have been (as since the dawn of time here) almost daily incidents of people using guns to shoot / threaten others, often after a drinking session, or in a road rage incident. Many (most) of those guns are illegal.

Legally-held guns invariably cost their owners a great deal of money, so I can't see any government funding a buy back programme. And if they tell owners to hand them in for token payments of a couple of thousand baht, I imagine there'll be a flood of 'lost' guns making their way into the unlicensed marked.

Big money in 'aftermarket' firearms.

19 hours ago, Hakuna Matata said:

Those who are disregarding the law, eventually end up in prison.

Like the Red Bull Heir or the Senators son ? Wow.

An off topic post about the NRA in the US and a reply has been removed.

16 hours ago, BKKBike09 said:

There haven't been any civilian carry permits issued for more than two years and, as this article says, carrying a firearm in public without cause is already punishable under existing laws.

Yet there have been (as since the dawn of time here) almost daily incidents of people using guns to shoot / threaten others, often after a drinking session, or in a road rage incident. Many (most) of those guns are illegal.

Legally-held guns invariably cost their owners a great deal of money, so I can't see any government funding a buy back programme. And if they tell owners to hand them in for token payments of a couple of thousand baht, I imagine there'll be a flood of 'lost' guns making their way into the unlicensed marked.

Why think that the suspension of a carry permit implies that legally permitted firearm owners will dump weapons as a result ?

The change does not deny posession.

Americans will hate this law. Thank goodness for Thai common sense.