The Thai government is overhauling firearms laws, enhancing licensing controls, and utilizing technology for better record-keeping and background checks, while gun dealers will screen buyers more rigorously.

Key Points

• The Thai government is set to overhaul firearms laws, focusing on modernizing licensing controls related to the import, sale, possession, and use of firearms, and their associated ammunition. An estimated 10 million firearms are currently in civilian possession, and no increase in this number is planned.
• Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt announced that technology will be implemented to streamline firearms records and enhance authority checks, transitioning from a reliance on paper records to a more comprehensive digital system. Gun dealers will be tasked with conducting behavioral and mental health checks on potential buyers.
• The Interior Ministry suggests allowing individuals with illegal or unregistered firearms to surrender them to authorities. Additionally, the use of firearms as collateral in pawnshops remains illegal, and measures are being established to improve overall licensing, verification, and monitoring processes.

The government is preparing to overhaul firearms laws and modernize licensing controls, covering the import, sale, possession, and use of firearms, as well as ammunition and the premises where firearms are used.

Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt said technology will be used to link firearms records and enable authorities to conduct more thorough checks, replacing a system that still relies heavily on paper records and fragmented information. An estimated 10 million firearms are currently held by people in Thailand, and the government does not plan to approve any increase in that number.

Gun dealers would take greater responsibility for screening prospective buyers, including checks on behavioral history and mental health, while government agencies would apply tighter licensing scrutiny. The Interior Ministry has also proposed allowing people with illegal or unregistered firearms to surrender them to authorities.

Pakorn also addressed the use of firearms as pawnshop collateral, which is already illegal because gun licenses are issued to specific individuals and cannot be transferred through such arrangements. Unlawfully held firearms may be surrendered without waiting for new legislation as authorities work to improve licensing, verification, and monitoring nationwide.

Source : Thai Government Moves to Overhaul Firearms Laws and Licensing

The shop is known for its Make & Mingle sessions, which see people travel from far and wide with their own projects to knit, sew or craft in a group rather than complete the tasks at home alone.

Charities, such as Oscar’s Community Corner, also use space in the shop for their own crafting projects.

Westmacott continued: “We are working other jobs and don’t take a wage from the business at all, we put everything back in. We are personally pushing our own finances into it to try and keep things going.

“As much as the business is growing… it is a real struggle at the moment. We are in a difficult period.

“This [the fundraiser] is so we keep open and keep things inclusive and affordable.”

This article was written by

Follow

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of NVDA, AAPL, AMZN, EWY, GOOG, GOOGL, META, MU, SKHY, SPCX either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Disclaimer: Any material in this article should not be relied on as a formal investment recommendation. Never buy a stock without doing your own thorough research.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.