Key facts
- Thailand has an estimated 10 million civilian-owned firearms.
- Approximately 4 million firearms in Thailand are unlicensed.
- Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered tighter gun control measures.
- Firearm purchase schemes and licenses are being suspended.
- Past gun reform attempts in Thailand have been short-lived.
Thailand is confronting a significant challenge with civilian firearm ownership, as an estimated 10 million guns are in private hands. A concerning aspect of this issue is that approximately 4 million of these firearms are believed to be unlicensed. Recent incidents of gun violence have spurred Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to take action. He has directed authorities to implement tighter gun control measures across the nation. These directives include the suspension of existing firearm purchase schemes and the revocation of licenses. Despite these new orders, Thailand's history with gun control reform suggests that such measures may face difficulties in achieving long-term effectiveness, as past attempts have proven to be short-lived.