Thai Police To Step Up Gun Control From May

[webfact]

Royal Thai Police to step up gun control from May

file photo

BANGKOK, 1 May 2013 (NNT) – The Royal Thai Police is set to step up its control on gun ownership from May onwards.

Deputy National Police spokesperson Anucha Romyanan said on Tuesday that official statistics related to criminal cases, which have taken place in the past 12 months, showed a disturbing surge in the use of both registered and illegal guns.

Mr. Anucha stated that a total of 47,630 guns have been confiscated from all reported cases, while more are believed to remain hidden and may be used in future offences.

As a result, the National Police Department is set to step up its clampdown on gun and arms possession from May onwards, said the deputy spokesperson.

He went on to say that the police will be specifically paying attention to teenage motorcycle street racers, who are prone to commit crimes, as well as released convicts and loan sharks.

Mr. Anucha believes that such data will enable the police to conduct an analysis and perform more effective clampdowns.

He added that, as part of a more stringent campaign, the police will also prosecute the parents of those who face charges related to guns.

-- NNT 2013-05-01

[OzMick]

At the risk of advocating profiling, they could make a habit of checking red-shirted protesters.

I wonder what charge they will lay against my 83yo mum if I'm caught with a shooter?

[sjjmmi]

To late it is already the wild wild east

[tominbkk]

Most guns are sold underground anyway, so what's the point?

[apetley]

Every single one of my wifes friends here in the village owns a gun or has a gun in the house be it an air gun, home made single shot, shot gun or hand gun. I am not aware of any that are licensed.

The problem seems to be endemic and will take a massive effort to solve. Where to begin?

[Pimay1]

They might start with controlling gun ownership of the MPs. I recall two people being shot and killed by MPs in the last year.

[jacko45k]

They might start with controlling gun ownership of the MPs. I recall two people being shot and killed by MPs in the last year.

Or their offspring......

[ezzra]

And how they propose to do that? house to house search? body search? start a "dob a gun owner" campaign? the way I see it, this a lip service, flying balloons for the sake of

good PR and police image...good luck to them

[Thai at Heart]

This is a typo.

"Thai police may step up gun control" is how it should read.

[prakhonchai nick]

Advertise an amnesty. Hand in all guns by the end of May. Anyone -and I mean anyone then having an unlicenced gun in their possession, car, home, wherever, will face a 20,000bt fine AND 6 months inside!

That will do for starters!

If laws exiist, then they must be enforced SERIOUSLY!

[harrismac]

Where is everyone getting these guns? I can't seem to find any.

[Thai at Heart]

Where is everyone getting these guns? I can't seem to find any.

A local copper touted a brochure full of them to me 6 months ago. For an arrangement fee of course.

[ratcatcher]

Advertise an amnesty. Hand in all guns by the end of May. Anyone -and I mean anyone then having an unlicenced gun in their possession, car, home, wherever, will face a 20,000bt fine AND 6 months inside!

That will do for starters!

If laws exiist, then they must be enforced SERIOUSLY!

"If laws exist, then they must be enforced SERIOUSLY!"

[kurnell]

I'd like a gun. Where do I buy one?

[wiyada]

And how they propose to do that? house to house search? body search? start a "dob a gun owner" campaign? the way I see it, this a lip service, flying balloons for the sake of

good PR and police image...good luck to them

Arm amnesties seem to work well in other countries, especially if the money is offered.

[northernboy]

At the risk of advocating profiling, they could make a habit of checking red-shirted protesters.

I wonder what charge they will lay against my 83yo mum if I'm caught with a shooter?

Where do you think the guns all unreported cases collected during this crack down are destined to be sent (distributed) ?

[chooka]

They might start with controlling gun ownership of the MPs. I recall two people being shot and killed by MPs in the last year.

One was deemed an accident as he was simply cleaning his uzi at the restuarant dinner table when it accidently went off and shot his ex wife.

[chooka]

I'd like a gun. Where do I buy one?

I hate guns.

[stevehaigh]

i was in Klong Thom market a few days ago where they sell just about everything (a year or so ago anyhow). i was looking for pepper spray and a BB gun but there was nothing for sale at all. yet there was lots of other illegal stuff openly on display by the ton, like porno dvds and sex toys

it seems that there maybe some clamping down already

[Thai at Heart]

Maybe the police need more guns and ammo in May?

[dmroo]

Really dudes,

I am always amazed at how negative people can be when hearing about how Thai gov wants to do something in the positive way. Why not just try to look at the good sides and be a bit more positive towards things. Gun control is a great step towards what most of us would like to consider a safe paradise to live. Stop bitching and support these ideas instead of shooting them down all the time.

[Thai at Heart]

Really dudes,

I am always amazed at how negative people can be when hearing about how Thai gov wants to do something in the positive way. Why not just try to look at the good sides and be a bit more positive towards things. Gun control is a great step towards what most of us would like to consider a safe paradise to live. Stop bitching and support these ideas instead of shooting them down all the time.

You really don't get it do you.

This is just fluff for the papers. There are literally hundreds of said issues of the month every year in Thailand.

Crack down on helmets, crack down on drugs, crack down on pollution, crack down on drivers, crack down on underage sex, crack down on booze, crack down on pollution.

With a measurable success rate (after 18 years in Thailand), of zero. The only one successfully achieved issues is the doctor with his condoms for aids prevention.

And even that gets poo pood occasionally that it encourages teenagers to have sex. As if it isn't the country's national sport.

[cup-O-coffee]

How about stepping up control on street bandits in brown clothing and bearing small arms, who stop motorists for no reason other than to shake them down and hint / demand a bribe?

[Just1Voice]

I got a cop in the family, SrSgtMajor, who has let me know that if I want a gun, no problem. He will push through paperwork for my Thai wife to be legal owner, then get me whatever I want.

TiT

[MikeENZ]

i was in Klong Thom market a few days ago where they sell just about everything (a year or so ago anyhow). i was looking for pepper spray and a BB gun but there was nothing for sale at all. yet there was lots of other illegal stuff openly on display by the ton, like porno dvds and sex toys

it seems that there maybe some clamping down already

You were in the wrong part, there is a full street specialising in 6mm Airsoft/BB guns and airsoft accessories (see below - helmet/gogs were purchased from same store 5 weeks ago), as its a massive passtime in Thailand, either airsoft games (Most paintball fields in Thailand also have airsoft fields or run them on the same fields), or airsoft sport shooting (mainly based at the Army base Rab 11). You can buy airsoft/6mm bbs openly on the street between around Nana BTS, and there are shops that sell airsoft CO2 grenades in MBK...

The same street has all manner of knives, tazers, pepper spray/mace openly for sale. Airsoft guns are not illegal in Thailand, same goes with paintball guns.. heck I know someone who recently went through swampy with 17 paintball markers in their luggage for a paintball tournament..

.. So theres no reason why they'd be taking them off the shelves.. They are hardly an issue or a real dangers in Thailand. The issue is bigger real steel handguns, and Local thais using them whenever they loose face. Same goes with blades etc, most of the young thai males I know out on the islands carry some form of concealed weapon, which makes them scary to be around when they've had too much sangsom to say the least..

I haven't seen anywhere openly selling larger cal air guns there though.

Proper gun shops like the ones on the army base do however appear to stock accessories for real steel guns and possibly the arms themselves (but I believe these must be arranged via the cops?).

[thequietman]

"Thai police to step up bribes (increase) for guns from May."

Now, doesn't that sound a bit closer to the truth.

[Angeledge777]

Is there a Thai who doesn't own a gun?

[bigbamboo]

New moon, new crackdown.

[trainman34014]

It would help a lot if the BIB stopped selling on all the confiscated guns to friends and relatives. They need internal clampdowns before trying them on the wider public. Just more lip service for the masses doesn't solve problems.

[madmitch]

It doesn't help in that gun use is glorified every night on the dreadful Thai soaps.