Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has approved a one-year suspension on the issuance of gun licenses as a part of an effort to decrease gun-related violence, as announced by Traisuree Taisaranakul, the secretary to the interior minister. This directive, known as Por 12, follows the regulations outlined in the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive, Fireworks, and Imitation Firearms Act, she explained.
The directive is currently en route for approval by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and is anticipated to become effective the day after its publication in the Royal Gazette.
The secretary clarified that this regulation concerning firearms does not apply to government officials, such as active-duty police officers, who are permitted to carry firearms.
Most recently, Suthipong Chulcharoen, the permanent secretary for the interior, instructed provincial governors to direct firearms registrars within their provinces to cease issuing Por 12 licenses. Registrars may include provincial governors, district chiefs, and deputy district chiefs, while the firearms registrar in Bangkok is the director-general of the Provincial Administration Department.
Additionally, the permanent secretary directed registrars to refrain from issuing new licenses for the import and sale of imitation firearms to existing license holders. Moreover, individuals in possession of blank guns, BB guns, or imitation firearms capable of being converted into real weapons are now required to register them with local registrars.
These actions are in response to a series of deadly shootings in Bangkok that prompted a reevaluation of public firearms license issuance and stricter regulations on gun control.
The string of violent incidents commenced on October 3 at the Siam Paragon shopping mall, where a 14-year-old boy opened fire, resulting in three deaths and five injuries. Shortly after, during a clash between rival student groups on November 11 at the Sacred Heart Convent School in Bangkok’s Klong Toey area, a teacher was struck by a stray bullet.
Following this, a 15-year-old Mathayom 5 student was hit by a stray bullet in the Suan Luang district during a brawl between youth gangs.
