Firearms in Thailand explained

Firearms in Thailand refers to the number and types of firearms in the country in civilian (unofficial) hands and the laws and societal norms that govern their possession and use.

About one in ten people in Thailand legally own a gun. There are more than six million registered guns in a country with a population of 66.7 million.^[1] Small Arms Survey estimates that the total number of guns, both licit and illicit, held by Thai civilians in 2017 is 10,300,000,^[2] equating to 15.1 firearms per 100 inhabitants. Figures for the other ASEAN nations are Cambodia, 4.5 per 100 inhabitants; Philippines, 3.6; Laos, 3.0; Myanmar, 1.6; Vietnam, 1.6; Brunei, 1.4; Malaysia, 0.7; Singapore, 0.3; and Indonesia, zero.^[3]

Ownership of firearms is particularly high in the south Thailand provinces of Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat that have witnessed significant insurgency and rebellion since 2004.

Gun laws

The Thai laws applicable to firearms regulation are the Act Controlling Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms, B.E. 2490 (1947)^{[4] [5]} and Amendments to the Act Controlling Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms, B.E. 2490 (2017).^[6]

Gun ownership in Thailand is restricted to Thai citizens.^[7]

Violent gun deaths

In 2016 Thailand's rate of violent gun-related deaths stood at 4.45 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. In comparison, that of the Philippines was 7.42; the US, 3.85; Cambodia, 0.96; Myanmar, 0.56; Malaysia, 0.46; Indonesia, 0.10; and Singapore, 0.03.^[8]

See also

• Crime in Thailand
• Estimated number of civilian guns per capita by country
• Gun ownership
• Overview of gun laws by nation

Events

• 2020 Nakhon Ratchasima shootings
• 2022 Nong Bua Lamphu massacre
• 2023 Siam Paragon shooting

External links

• Act Controlling Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms. B.E. 2490 (Thai)
• Amendments to the Act Controlling Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms. B.E. 2490 (Thai)

Notes and References

1. News: Domínguez . Gabriel . A look at Thailand's fervent gun culture . 31 October 2018 . Deutsche Welle . 2016-02-19.
2. Book: Karp . Aaron . Briefing Paper; Estimating Global Civilian-Held Firearms Numbers . Small Arms Survey; Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies . Geneva . 4 . June 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180620231909/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/T-Briefing-Papers/SAS-BP-Civilian-Firearms-Numbers.pdf . dead . June 20, 2018 . 1 November 2018.
3. Web site: Civilian Firearms Holdings 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180629102233/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/Weapons_and_Markets/Tools/Firearms_holdings/SAS-BP-Civilian-held-firearms-annexe.pdf . dead . June 29, 2018 . Small Arms Survey (SAS) . 1 November 2018.
4. Web site: Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, Fireworks, and the Equivalent of Firearms Act B.E. 2490 (1947). Vertic. English translation. 2018-11-01.
5. Web site: Gun Law of Thailand . Chaninat & Leeds. Thailand Law Forum . 1 November 2018 . 30 September 2011.
6. Web site: Zeldin . Wendy . Thailand: Amendments to Firearms Law . Library of Congress . 1 November 2018 . 23 October 2017.
7. News: Sattaburuth . Aekarach . Gun possession, use by foreigners to be banned . 10 August 2019 . Bangkok Post . 12 October 2017.
8. News: Aizenman . Nurith . Gun Violence: How The U.S. Compares With Other Countries . 1 November 2018 . National Public Radio (NPR) . October 6, 2017.