Pakorn Nilprapunt to propose Thailand firearm law reforms

Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt is preparing to submit a draft amendment to the Firearms Act to the Cabinet following discussions with the Council of State. The proposed reform aims to overhaul the current system, which has been in place since 1947, to address loopholes in legal imports and the proliferation of illegal weapons.

Pakorn identified three main types of illegal firearms: those smuggled across borders, legally purchased weapons that were never registered, and locally manufactured guns. To address this, the Ministry of Interior is proposing a measure that allows individuals to surrender firearms to the government without facing legal penalties if they are uncertain about the legality of their possession. This approach is intended as an alternative to government buyback programs, which Pakorn noted are prohibitively expensive.

The reform plan emphasizes a systemic overhaul, including the integration of digital technology to improve registration, tracking, and monitoring. Key components include stricter controls on gun shops, requiring them to share responsibility for oversight, and implementing mental health checks for buyers. Additionally, the plan seeks to tighten regulations on shooting ranges, which currently fall under the jurisdiction of the Sports Authority of Thailand, to prevent ammunition leakage.