Tourist Safety: Whips Delay Gun-ban Bill

[george]

TOURIST SAFETY: Whips delay gun-ban bill

BANGKOK: Government whips yesterday delayed the review of a draft bill proposing a blanket ban on individuals carrying firearms in five tourist destinations, arguing that some of the provisions were impractical and should be rewritten.

The delay was meant to allow the relevant agencies to review the draft. The ban, if enacted, would cover Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai and Samui.

"The draft appears to have many loopholes which could fuel abusive law enforcement," said whip Wichit Plangsrisakul.

Many draft provisions were written in such a way as to allow police to interpret freely how they would enforce the law, he said. For example, police would have wide discretion to decide whether to arrest a person who was lawfully licensed to carry a pistol if he or she happened to drive through Pattaya.

Wichit said Interior Minister Bhokin Bhalakula had agreed to re-examine the draft before proceeding further.

-- The Nation 2004-03-16