Rachada Dhanadirek, spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office, said that at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister instructed relevant agencies to strengthen firearms control measures to crack down on illegal firearms and unauthorized possession.
The measures include both urgent and long-term initiatives and will require coordination among several agencies, with the Department of Provincial Administration under the Ministry of Interior and the police serving as the principal agencies.
The measures aim to close loopholes in the existing firearms control system and prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.
The Cabinet has ordered the following immediate measures:
- Suspend the new welfare firearms programme until further notice from the Cabinet.
- Suspend the issuance of firearms purchase permits (P.3).
- Conduct a nationwide review of outstanding P.3 permits. Registrars must inspect pending P.3 permits for firearms that have not yet been purchased and report the findings to the Ministry of Interior within 30 days.
- Expedite the issuance of P.4 possession permits. Individuals who have received P.3 permits and purchased firearms must apply for a P.4 permit to possess and use the firearms within 30 days from today. Failure to do so will result in the possession being deemed unauthorized under the law.
- Inspect firearms dealers nationwide. The Department of Provincial Administration will cross-check firearms sales records against P.3 permits. Any discrepancies will be investigated and prosecuted. The Revenue Department will also assist in verifying tax payment records.
- Inspect ammunition at shooting ranges. The Department of Provincial Administration, in cooperation with the Royal Thai Police and relevant sports agencies, will inspect ammunition sales and ensure compliance with the law. Authorities will also verify tax records and take legal action against any violations. The measure follows findings that some shooting ranges may have been used as sources of illegal ammunition distribution.
- Step up the crackdown on illegal firearms. Provincial administrative authorities and police will accelerate operations against illegal firearms, with offenders facing strict prosecution. Authorities will also ask the courts to impose severe penalties in accordance with the law.
The government will also introduce longer-term reforms to strengthen the firearms control system.
Under these reforms, Ministry of Interior will propose amendments to the Firearms Act to establish an electronic system covering all stages of firearms licensing and sales in real time. The system will link relevant data with the Customs Department and Revenue Department and include firearm identification information, tighter controls over firearms trading, and clearer accountability for dealers. Penalties for violations will also be increased.
The draft amendments must be submitted within 60 days. The Prime Minister has assigned Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt, who oversees legal affairs, to supervise the process.
Other reforms includes the requirement of a certain gun license renewals every three years. Holders of firearms possession and use permits will be required to renew their licenses every three years.
The reforms also include tightening ammunition controls. Firearms dealers and shooting ranges will be required to conduct daily checks of ammunition sales against their inventories.
Compensation for Shooting Victims also part of these reforms.
Regarding compensation, Rachada said that under existing laws, families of those killed in the shooting incident at an educational institution in Nonthaburi Province will be eligible for compensation from three sources: the Disaster Relief Fund of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Education.
The Prime Minister’s Office has already approved initial compensation of 1 million baht for each of the six deceased victims, with the Ministry of Education serving as the main coordinating agency.
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