Thai Police Step Up Measures Against Illegal Firearms

[webfact]

Police step up measures against illegal firearms

Bangkok, 7 June 2013 (NNT) -- The Royal Thai Police (RTP) has tightened measures against arms smuggling following reports of arrests of six Thais in the US for exporting restricted firearms to Thailand.

Referring to the case, the RTP Spokesperson Police Major General Piya Utayo said the RTP does not ignore the matter although it has not yet received contacts from US authorities for any action.

He said that Police Commissioner General Police General Adul Saengsingkaew, for quite some time, has placed emphasis on crime involving fire arms and illegal fire arms. According to the spokesperson, the Police chief has been periodically sending memo and organizing seminars on the matter.

Police Major General Piya added that recent suppression drives on firearms have resulted in confiscation of 1,555 unregistered firearms and 16,600 rounds of ammunition, reaffirming that the RTP would continue its mission to wipe out illegal guns from streets.


-- NNT 2013-06-07

[bigbamboo]

Excellent news.

The last thing the police want is crazed individuals waving guns around in public places and shooting innocent people.

[gl555]

It's the rich people who have licensed firearms who can blow me away and get away with it who scare me more then the little people with illegal firearms.

[Unkomoncents]

it has not yet received contacts from US authorities for any action

Because US authorities would surely recognize the value of contacting the Royal Thai Police directly in this type of case. This little corrupt bumpkin has overestimated the size of his footprints.

[pisico]

It's the rich people who have licensed firearms who can blow me away and get away with it who scare me more then the little people with illegal firearms.

You forgot to add to the list untrained, crazed police officers packing guns. Anyway, illegal guns can be found flowing into Thailand through the Golden Triangle. China makes more Norinko AKs than Thailand can use. Illegal firearms? Just offer 10,000 Baht to a recruit and for some "mysterious reasons" an M16 will disappear from the armory. Where the blithering fools reading this news item think the terrorists in the South get their firearms and C4 from? So, now the BIB are grandstanding to show they care. Remember folks: we are in a country where image and saving face is more important than reality or facts.

[PoodMaiDai]

The average Thai isn't getting his gun from the USA. He's getting cheap Chinese made crap, homemade crap, or 2nd head weapons sold to him from the police or military that probably have kills on them.

Only wealthy Thais are interested in weapons of brand name, and can afford them.

[pisico]

The average Thai isn't getting his gun from the USA. He's getting cheap Chinese made crap, homemade crap, or 2nd head weapons sold to him from the police or military that probably have kills on them.

Only wealthy Thais are interested in weapons of brand name, and can afford them.

Add to that the teenagers in technical schools that make their own guns that have been used on numerous occasions against other schools' students injuring and killing the innocent. Will the BIB ever try to stop the manufacture of such weapons? My wild guess is a resounding NO! That means real police work: God forbid!

[Joe Mamma]

Any gun, no matter where it's origin is a timebomb in the wrong hands. The trickle coming in of weaponry and ammo from shipping , pales to the very borders of Thailand that must resemble the US- Mexico borders highway of guns, drugs, and bad people.

[A Member]

More appropriate buzzwords, " stepped up measures and tightened measures " but it's a bit late. Going back to Mt. T's war on drugs when more than 2,000 people were killed it was all supposed to be drug dealers shooting each other to avoid being informed on so all the propaganda was the wonderful success against drugs but no one seemed concerned the country was awash with guns.

[Halion]

The final paragraph of this article simply illuminates the stupidity the whole text.

The good Major General is going to eliminate all illegal weapons. Unlike his ear medicine counterpart he fails to give a time line. Perhaps when his grand children reach retirement.

[TackyToo]

It's the rich people who have licensed firearms who can blow me away and get away with it who scare me more then the little people with illegal firearms.

...and don't forget they sold firearms to PM's and civil servants with a 50% discount before the event they called an election!

[transam]

Then they can start with a stop and search ALL vehicles.

[comserve]

How about investigating police killings. There have been at least 2 police killings around here. Mainly of police 2nd wives who want to divorce their 2nd husband!

[sjjmmi]

BIB are the biggest cowboys here

[PoodMaiDai]

The average Thai isn't getting his gun from the USA. He's getting cheap Chinese made crap, homemade crap, or 2nd head weapons sold to him from the police or military that probably have kills on them.

Only wealthy Thais are interested in weapons of brand name, and can afford them.

Add to that the teenagers in technical schools that make their own guns that have been used on numerous occasions against other schools' students injuring and killing the innocent. Will the BIB ever try to stop the manufacture of such weapons? My wild guess is a resounding NO! That means real police work: God forbid!

Yes, homemade guns are a serious problem here, and it is impossible to stop. Thankfully, most of them are single shot weapons.

[NeverSure]

The average Thai isn't getting his gun from the USA. He's getting cheap Chinese made crap, homemade crap, or 2nd head weapons sold to him from the police or military that probably have kills on them.

Only wealthy Thais are interested in weapons of brand name, and can afford them.

Well, Chinese military weapons and ammo aren't exactly crap. Not top drawer, but they work. I have a Glock that's legal to carry. It cost me just over $2,000 US (60,000 baht) in Thailand. The license cost more in tea money than the actual engraving and license but it wasn't that bad. The gun's actual retail value is more like $500.

If you're used to seeing someone carrying a gun they are easier to spot. Many people wouldn't notice but I see them regularly.

[12DrinkMore]

The average Thai isn't getting his gun from the USA. He's getting cheap Chinese made crap, homemade crap, or 2nd head weapons sold to him from the police or military that probably have kills on them.

Only wealthy Thais are interested in weapons of brand name, and can afford them.

Well, Chinese military weapons and ammo aren't exactly crap. Not top drawer, but they work. I have a Glock that's legal to carry. It cost me just over $2,000 US (60,000 baht) in Thailand. The license cost more in tea money than the actual engraving and license but it wasn't that bad. The gun's actual retail value is more like $500.

If you're used to seeing someone carrying a gun they are easier to spot. Many people wouldn't notice but I see them regularly.

I have a Glock that's legal to carry.

The license cost more in tea money.

Fully legal in that case?

Just try and bring that out and shoot someone.

You might just find that there are a few problems with the legality of strolling around in public with a loaded firearm and a firm resolution to shoot to kill.

Many people wouldn't notice but I see them regularly.

Bit of the old "wink wink nudge nudge" then eh?

Edited June 7, 2013 by 12DrinkMore

[hgma]

(General spoken)

Guns cool? what a fool!

a child can pull the trigger, now you know why guns are so popular in Thailand.

[NeverSure]

The average Thai isn't getting his gun from the USA. He's getting cheap Chinese made crap, homemade crap, or 2nd head weapons sold to him from the police or military that probably have kills on them.

Only wealthy Thais are interested in weapons of brand name, and can afford them.

Well, Chinese military weapons and ammo aren't exactly crap. Not top drawer, but they work. I have a Glock that's legal to carry. It cost me just over $2,000 US (60,000 baht) in Thailand. The license cost more in tea money than the actual engraving and license but it wasn't that bad. The gun's actual retail value is more like $500.

If you're used to seeing someone carrying a gun they are easier to spot. Many people wouldn't notice but I see them regularly.

I have a Glock that's legal to carry.

The license cost more in tea money.

Fully legal in that case?

Just try and bring that out and shoot someone.

You might just find that there are a few problems with the legality of strolling around in public with a loaded firearm and a firm resolution to shoot to kill.

Many people wouldn't notice but I see them regularly.

Bit of the old "wink wink nudge nudge" then eh?

No, the gun is legally owned and licensed. It is legal to carry. It was legally engraved and licensed to both me and a farang friend through the proper channels. Does a little tea money shock you in Thailand? A brother of a friend is a policeman who took me to the Amphur who made it happen legally.

And yes, if you carry concealed you are much more likely to notice it on someone else because most people aren't paying attention.

[techboy]

It's the rich people who have licensed firearms who can blow me away and get away with it who scare me more then the little people with illegal firearms.

You forgot to add to the list untrained, crazed police officers packing guns. Anyway, illegal guns can be found flowing into Thailand through the Golden Triangle. China makes more Norinko AKs than Thailand can use. Illegal firearms? Just offer 10,000 Baht to a recruit and for some "mysterious reasons" an M16 will disappear from the armory. Where the blithering fools reading this news item think the terrorists in the South get their firearms and C4 from? So, now the BIB are grandstanding to show they care. Remember folks: we are in a country where image and saving face is more important than reality or facts.

Blithering fools indeed. You read the news item as well. A real blithering fool would believe that you are doing anything more than setting down personal extrapolation from a few scraps of news that you miraculously bothered to read. Typical: Guzzling beer, farting and authoritatively telling us all how it really is.

[impulse]

Still, porn is illegal and I see it on hundreds of street and market kiosks- offered for sale in the wide open.

Same with pirated software and movies.

Same with fake Viagra

Same with "exotic" pets

Same with prostitutes

No effort at all to hide these illegal items, all sold in plain sight.

Yet in 2 years here, other than the legal gun shops near Chinatown I have not seen a firearm for sale in public. I'm sure they're available, but they appear to rise to a different level of "illegal" here. I gotta kind of wonder why?

Edited June 8, 2013 by impulse

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been removed.

[dighambara]

Excellent news.

The last thing the police want is crazed individuals waving guns around in public places and shooting innocent people.

However, like gambling, prostitution, Bars, and Illicit traffic stops, aren't illegal guns a common source of police revenue..??

[Thai at Heart]

Once again, customs not doing it's job.