Legally purchasing/owning a gun in Thailand?

**FailSafe** · 05-04-2011, 12:25 PM

There's a big used market, but the guns are still pretty expensive- popular models in good condition are still ~75% of retail.

It's not the gun you're paying for- it's the taxes associated with it (like a high-end car).

Like I said earlier in the thread, I (err... I mean she...) was gifted a much higher-quality gun than I ever would have bought anyway.

**Slipstream** · 09-04-2011, 11:01 PM

So the bottom line is you need to be a 'permanent resident.' That excludes a large chunk of farang's.

Now I know some of you will say 'Good! It stops the bad farang owning them' however I can tell you for nothing my buddy had an attempted fire-bombing done on his house by a drugged-up yaa-baa gang (they thought he'd gotten one of their member's in jail when it was a Thai).
He's got fck all to defend himself with! He's married to a Thai

I also had an attempted break-in at my house here and packing nothing but pepper-spray doesn't quite cut it in my eye's.

Is that a hard and fast rule on the permanent residency or does it vary from province to province?
What does the actual Thai Law state in black and white on farang's owning guns?

I've been having this argument with a friend who is adamant farang's cannot own guns legally.

What about blank-firer's? Sure they do fck all but at least it's something that goes 'BANG' and will likely shit up a burglar to flee to rob a softer target...

**dirtydog** · 10-04-2011, 12:13 AM

Originally Posted by Slipstream

Is that a hard and fast rule on the permanent residency or does it vary from province to province?

Gun licenses are for life, you don't renew each year or anything.

Originally Posted by Slipstream

I've been having this argument with a friend who is adamant farang's cannot own guns legally.

How high and powerful is your Thai garauntor going to be? In times gone by if you knew an extremely high policeman they would issue a letter allowing you to keep a gun, but, that isn't strictly legal, but which policeman is going to question his bosses decision. For 99.99999% of farangs here, they wouldn't be able to get a license.

**larvidchr** · 10-04-2011, 01:37 AM

^^ If you would feel safer having a gun in your home, then never mind Thai law, just go out and buy one on the black market, cause if you ever came in a situation where a gun was the only way to save your/family bacon I'm pretty sure you'd rather face the problems of bribing your way out/or a Thai court - than the undertaker.

**FailSafe** · 10-04-2011, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by larvidchr

I'm pretty sure you'd rather face the problems of bribing your way out/or a Thai court - than the undertaker.

There's a saying in the States- 'I'd rather be judged by twelve than carried by six.'

**koman** · 10-04-2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by FailSafe

There's a big used market, but the guns are still pretty expensive- popular models in good condition are still ~75% of retail.

Where is this used market....how do you find good stuff for sale, and how do you go about buying something when you find it?

**FailSafe** · 10-04-2011, 01:10 PM

There are many gun shops in Bangkok- they all have used guns for sale (lots of lower quality .38s- they're still very pricey)- it would help a lot if you had some experience handling guns (especially a semi-auto- if you don't know how to take it apart to examine it, you probably shouldn't buy used unless you bring someone more knowledgeable with you to check it out).

You'll need your paperwork set up in advance before making a purchase (and permanent resident or not, you'll need a Thai person with some connections and money to help out- it's very unlikely that you'll be able to get anything in your own name, no matter who guarantees you).

**Slipstream** · 10-04-2011, 06:12 PM

Thanks for that, any info on gun's that have been converted to blank-firing? Do the gun-shops sell those?

**tombeckett** · 08-09-2011, 10:20 AM

Hello Everyone..
Was just wondering what is the story with rifle shooting here? Is there a range near Pattaya? what calibers are available?

I did alot of rifle back home and would like to get into it here if possible..

Thanks
Tom.

**pluto** · 08-09-2011, 10:46 AM

There are a couple of gun ranges in Pattaya. One is under the Tiffany complex on Second road. Another one on Soi "Paradise villa" about 500 meters Southbound after Lotus turn left go past the railway tracks and its on your right. There is another one in Huay Yai as well next to the road which is parallel to the railway tracks. There might be more which have popped up in the last few years.

**dirtydog** · 08-09-2011, 03:32 PM

Don't think there are any rifle ranges, plenty of pistol range in Pattaya and Jomtien, Elepahnt Krall on Soi Theprassit, Elephant Krall on Sukhumvit heading towards Sattahip by Soi Chaiyapruk, lots more around.

**tombeckett** · 09-09-2011, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Don't think there are any rifle ranges, plenty of pistol range in Pattaya and Jomtien, Elepahnt Krall on Soi Theprassit, Elephant Krall on Sukhumvit heading towards Sattahip by Soi Chaiyapruk, lots more around.

Thanks Dirtydog..
Yes i know of the pistol ranges was hoping there was a Rifle range somewhere.. what if i bring the rifle to the pistol range

can just imagine there faces landing a .308wby-mag up in front of the range master

**FailSafe** · 09-09-2011, 10:14 AM

I used to have a Weatherby 7mm mag (worst recoil of any rifle I ever owned- 10 shots or so and I was done- but great workmanship).

It would have been overkill at a 30 meter gun range...

**Dick** · 09-09-2011, 10:27 AM

Beratta 84f .380 in stainless is a great weapon for self protection

and yes the gun prices here are worse than cars.

**FailSafe** · 09-09-2011, 10:31 AM

Nothing wrong with a Beretta, though if I had to rely on one gun, I would take a Glock 19 over anything else (which is why the wife has one)- reliable as a hammer, and feeds any ammo (no matter how crappy) without jamming (even if you never clean it, though I'm very good about that).

**Dick** · 09-09-2011, 10:35 AM

The safety on Glocks are flawed when a round is chambered

a standard double action is a more reliable system

**FailSafe** · 09-09-2011, 01:14 PM

A Glock has 3 passive safeties, but to call them 'flawed' is ridiculous.

Your only real safety is your finger, and I don't believe in relying on your gun to prevent an accidental discharge- I know how to keep mine off the trigger until I want to the gun to go 'bang'.

**Dick** · 09-09-2011, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by FailSafe

A Glock has 3 passive safeties, but to call them 'flawed' is ridiculous.

Your only real safety is your finger, and I don't believe in relying on your gun to prevent an accidental discharge- I know how to keep mine off the trigger until I want to the gun to go 'bang'.

Get that stupid ass trigger safety in a combat situation and you will know what a shit design it is.

And check online how many goofy assed cops accidently discharged their weapons because of it - in fact it was the craze with all the police depts when it first came available on the US market , now most departments dont even allow the piece of shit to be a service side arm.

Trust God , trust Dick

**FailSafe** · 09-09-2011, 07:19 PM

Right- that's why Glock is the pistol issued to all FBI and DEA agents, and is carried by 65% of police officers in the US (and by most law enforcement agents all over the world).

Weapons are discharged accidentally because someone's finger was on the trigger when it shouldn't have been- an external safety doesn't fix being stupid.

Please show me where 'most departments' don't allow Glocks to be carried on or off duty.

**Fondles** · 09-09-2011, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Dick

and yes the gun prices here are worse than cars.

Ive no idea what gun prices are like in the "real world" but a work colleague (Thai) just bought a spankers new Glock 35 with 3 spare mags for Bt.40,000 I thought that seemed reasonable.

**FailSafe** · 09-09-2011, 07:26 PM

40K with paperwork is way less than you could buy it for from any dealer in Thailand- 75K maybe- not saying it's bs, but that's just too cheap for a new one (though it's a decent price second-hand).

**Fondles** · 09-09-2011, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by FailSafe

40K with paperwork is way less than you could buy it for from any dealer in Thailand- 75K maybe- not saying it's bs, but that's just too cheap for a new one (though it's a decent price second-hand).

All legal with paper work, he has a license for it as well.

**FailSafe** · 09-09-2011, 07:38 PM

What dealer did he get it from? I just really doubt that price, but good for him if he got it (I would guess it's less than dealer cost, or very close to it).

**Fondles** · 09-09-2011, 07:41 PM

Originally Posted by FailSafe

What dealer did he get it from? I just really doubt that price, but good for him if he got it (I would guess it's less than dealer cost, or very close to it).

He did show me the invoice but the dealer name escapes at this point in time, I'll ask on Monday but was purchased in BKK.

**FailSafe** · 09-09-2011, 07:45 PM

Here's a good thread from a foreigner who went to a few of the gun shops last year- the price for a Glock 19 was 100K (my wife's was 85K)-

Oceanbob in Bangkok Thailand.*Photos Added..GUNs Galore here - Calguns.net

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