Thailand gun dealers squeezed further by proposed new curbs

Bangkok gun dealers say Thailand's long-running firearms import ban is forcing some businesses to seek other income, while proposed new restrictions could further reduce legal sales.

At Suchart and Friends Gun in Wang Burapha, Bangkok's historic gun district, sourdough loaves have replaced pistols and rifles in the display window. Owner Warintorn Boonyachai began baking bread five months ago to help cover staff salaries.

The nationwide ban on gun imports has been in place since a shooting at a Bangkok shopping mall in 2023. It followed a series of mass shootings in Thailand, including attacks at a school and a childcare centre, which have prompted periodic tightening of firearms rules.

"I do still have hope, because like I've said, selling guns is less tiring than selling bread," said Ms Warintorn, who also owns a baking school.

New proposals after latest school shooting

Her hopes of a return to gun imports appear less likely after a 14-year-old gunman killed at least seven people in shootings at his home and school outside Bangkok this month, before fatally shooting himself.

Following that attack, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul proposed legislation to suspend the issue of new firearm purchasing permits and new gun ownership permits. Police were also ordered to stop renewing permits for buying guns.

The mother of a 14-year-old student who escaped the Aug 7 school shooting said she supports gun ownership but wants stronger controls, including on people carrying weapons outside their homes.

"There definitely should be a scrutiny everywhere on weapons, because knives are also as scary," she said.

Traders warn of black-market risk

Thititorn Bupparamanee, president of the Firearms Traders Association of Thailand, said suspending permits would not address the roots of gun violence.

"They are not fixing the problem at the right places, because if they did, there would be less crime," he said. He added that preventing the public from buying legal guns through legal channels could push some people towards the black market.

Thailand had an estimated 10.3 million firearms in civilian possession, or about 15 guns per 100 residents, according to a 2017 estimate by the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. That was the second-highest rate in Asia behind Pakistan.

The group estimated that just over 6 million firearms were registered, with another 4 million unregistered. Mr Thititorn put the industry's value at about 2 billion baht.

Shops left with little stock

One gun store which has operated for nearly seven decades said it had only two guns left for sale and six employees. Staff, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak publicly, said the remaining guns could not be sold and no new ones could be imported.

Wang Burapha's gun district has operated since 1963, but dealers now face the prospect that restrictions on imports and permits will leave them with little legal business.

Picture courtesy of Reuters

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19 August 2026

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