Legally purchasing/owning a gun in Thailand?

**brouhaha** · 23-03-2011, 04:03 PM

What are the laws regarding the legal purchase and ownership of a gun (handgun) in Thailand? Is it possible and if so what is the law? Any special laws regarding carrying the gun? Thanks in advance for your input.

**baldrick** · 23-03-2011, 04:06 PM

this is a question for the " Americans in Thailand " subforum

**brouhaha** · 23-03-2011, 04:10 PM

555

Mods can move it at their pleasure.

**FailSafe** · 23-03-2011, 04:10 PM

I just looked into it- there was no way I could buy one in my name, so the wife got one in hers (her father transferred one of his guns over to her, which simplified the process)- the permit she has isn't for carrying, but for home storage and transportation in the car from the house to a gun range.

Note that anything decent you might want to buy (Glock 19, Beretta 92F, CZ75, etc.) is going to cost you around 100K all-in.

Used .38s are still really pricey- it's the government's way of controlling the legal market.

**dirtydog** · 23-03-2011, 04:12 PM

For a Thai or a farang? For a Thai they are entitled to own a gun for home protection and the license is just a formality, have to be on the house papers for a year, have to own valuable possessions, no major criminal record, if I remember rightly the license is done in 4 parts, first you need a guarantor, village chief or whatever, then you can get the first paper, this entitles you to arrange purchase of a gun, once you have found the gun you like they will give you a paper with their details and the gun details, then you go back and get the second paper so you can buy it, once bought you then need a third paper so you can keep it in your home, then there is the fourth which I can't remember what that is.

**brouhaha** · 23-03-2011, 04:16 PM

Sorry, I neglected to say for a falang.

**dirtydog** · 23-03-2011, 04:37 PM

You would need to be resident in Thailand, ie if you have to do visa runs you are not going to get a license, licenses are for life, easiest is get it in your wifes/girlfriends or maids name.

**superman** · 23-03-2011, 04:50 PM

If you take up permanent residency a farang can own one, from my understanding.

**brouhaha** · 23-03-2011, 05:00 PM

And the license is tied to a specific gun?

**dirtydog** · 23-03-2011, 05:02 PM

^Yes, but other guns can be added.

**guyinthailand** · 23-03-2011, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by FailSafe

I just looked into it- there was no way I could buy one in my name, so the wife got one in hers (her father transferred one of his guns over to her, which simplified the process)- the permit she has isn't for carrying, but for home storage and transportation in the car from the house to a gun range.

Note that anything decent you might want to buy (Glock 19, Beretta 92F, CZ75, etc.) is going to cost you around 100K all-in.

Used .38s are still really pricey- it's the government's way of controlling the legal market.

ouch! 100,000 baht?! for a pistol?

you can get a new Glock 17 for $520 U.S. dollars in the States, about 17,000 baht.

**dirtydog** · 23-03-2011, 11:53 PM

They are around 70k baht here, 2nd hand .38 sw is around 25k to 34k baht.

**FailSafe** · 24-03-2011, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by guyinthailand

Originally Posted by FailSafe

I just looked into it- there was no way I could buy one in my name, so the wife got one in hers (her father transferred one of his guns over to her, which simplified the process)- the permit she has isn't for carrying, but for home storage and transportation in the car from the house to a gun range.

Note that anything decent you might want to buy (Glock 19, Beretta 92F, CZ75, etc.) is going to cost you around 100K all-in.

Used .38s are still really pricey- it's the government's way of controlling the legal market.

ouch! 100,000 baht?! for a pistol?

you can get a new Glock 17 for $520 U.S. dollars in the States, about 17,000 baht.

Yes, I know- I'm from the States and I've still got a few guns in my dad's safe.

You're probably not going to find a brand-new Glock (17 or 19) for 70K- it will be closer to 85K (and most Thais won't get approved for anything bigger than .38/9mm) and (as I mentioned) closer to 100K after paperwork fees/transport and greasing a few palms...

I went looking for a Sig Sauer 229 as I've owned one before and they're super-reliable- I could only find a 226 for 87K.

I (well, I should say my wife) ended up with a Browning Hi-Power (great gun, but not my favorite as I dislike the trigger pull and there's no one in Thailand who I would trust to work on it)- it runs nearly a grand in the States, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's close to 200K here.

**Bower** · 25-03-2011, 03:46 AM

Shhssh, a gun in my wifes name, she couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo.
No proficiency test or at least membership of a gun club.
Compulsory gun cabinet ? separate ammo safe ?

**dirtydog** · 25-03-2011, 05:45 AM

Originally Posted by Bower

No proficiency test or at least membership of a gun club.
Compulsory gun cabinet ? separate ammo safe ?

Whats all that then? No point in owning a gun for home protection if it is stuck in a safe without bullets in it, Thailands gun laws and home protection laws are slightly different to the UK, here you are actually allowed to protect yourself and your property.

**storm1fishing** · 03-04-2011, 09:46 PM

What would the implecations be for a falang if he actually used (his wife's) gun and killed someone on his property in self defence.

**dirtydog** · 03-04-2011, 09:55 PM

^It would depend greatly on your relationhip with the police and who was shot.

**FailSafe** · 04-04-2011, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

^It would depend greatly on your relationhip with the police and who was shot.

Even if you are friendly with the cops and it happened on your property in self-defense, a wise man would have his woman fire off a shot (so she has powder residue on her hands- he should also scrub his own hands) and have her claim to have done the shooting.

**koman** · 04-04-2011, 07:23 AM

And of course in Thailand; as in all other countries that have stringent gun control laws....the people who just want to protect themselves in their own home can't get a gun, but all the guys who want to break in, are armed to the teeth.....but without a doubt they have all gone through the 4 step process of doing it legally...

**guyinthailand** · 04-04-2011, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by storm1fishing

What would the implecations be for a falang if he actually used (his wife's) gun and killed someone on his property in self defence.

You know why bus drivers flee the scene after a bus accident has killed passengers? Because the family members will dismember the bus driver.

If you kill a Thai you better do the same: flee.

**ThaiAm** · 05-04-2011, 06:33 AM

Had a friend from England that thought he needed a gun so he bought one in his wifes name and seems to me he paid about 80,000 baht. Short time later they divorced and now he has a pistol but for sure can't do a thing with it since the papers are in her name.
From my point of view a big solid bat like stick or two is enough protection and no need to get into the business of owning a gun.

**FailSafe** · 05-04-2011, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by ThaiAm

From my point of view a big solid bat like stick or two is enough protection and no need to get into the business of owning a gun.

And what will you do if the guy breaking into your house pulls out a shitty .38 when you confront him?

'Never bring a bat to a gunfight.'

**sunsetter** · 05-04-2011, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by FailSafe

is going to cost you around 100K all-in.

whole street over near chinatown, glocks and s+w m+ps, can get them for a lot less than that if you dont go with the missus

**FailSafe** · 05-04-2011, 10:50 AM

Well, hell, you can find a used (and I mean used) .22 for 5K if you know where to look and don't mind being implicated in few killings you had no part in.

**sunsetter** · 05-04-2011, 10:57 AM

^if that was for me, im talking about real shops, not back alleys,theres also a second hand market in imported semis, not many come onto the market but they do pop up

i had some pictures somewhere on here, some similar thread.... cant bloody find it

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