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  1. #1
    Thailand Expat
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    Owning a gun in Thailand

    Criminal Law in Thailand Part XXI: Owning a gun in Thailand
    25/07/2010

    Several readers have asked whether it is legal to own a gun in Thailand.



    Although the law relating to weapons discussed last week would also apply to firearms, there is a law that applies specifically to firearms.

    It is the Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive Articles, Fireworks and Imitation of Firearms Act _ or, the act.

    The act prohibits the making, buying, possessing, using or importing of guns or ammunition without a licence from the local registrar. I

    n Bangkok, the registrar would be the director-general of the provincial administration, under the Ministry of the Interior.

    In the provinces outside Bangkok, the registrar would be the sheriff, otherwise known as nai amphur.

    This means that even if you have a gun or ammunition in your house and never take it out, you are violating the law unless you have a licence.

    Any of the above offenses, including just keeping an unlicensed gun in your house, subjects you to imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine.

    Gun licenses are personal to the gun owner.

    If you borrow or buy a gun, even if it's licensed by its owner or the person from who you bought it, it is crime to possess it.

    Likewise, it's a crime even if you just keep it in your house for self-defense.

    This would subject you to imprisonment of up to five years and a fine unless you get a licence for it yourself.

    There are additional penalties for taking an unlicensed gun to a town or village or in a public way _ up to five years' imprisonment.

    Also, if you take an unlicensed gun to a public gathering such as for worship, entertainment or political purposes, you could face up to five years in jail.

    This offense carries with it a minimum sentence of six months in jail.

    Even if you have a licence, by the way, taking a gun to a public gathering, including a political rally or protest, subjects you to imprisonment of up to a year and a fine.

    The act prohibits certain people from getting a gun licence.

    They are:

    Anyone who has been convicted of an imprison-able offense under the act emor the Criminal

    anyone who has been convicted of certain offenses other than those above more than twice in the five-year period before applying for the licence;

    anyone who is not able to properly use a gun due to physical disability or infirmity.

    Such a person may, however, own certain guns, but not shoot them;

    anyone adjudged incompetent orquasi-incompetent by a court or who appears to the registrar, discussed above, to be of unsound mind or have a mental infirmity;

    anyone unemployed and without income;

    anyone without a permanent residence;

    a person who has been guilty of gross misconduct that might affect the public order.

    The registrar has wide discretion in connection with this item and might, for example, deny a licence to someone who appeared to be in a violent frame of mind or whose behavior was erratic;

    anyone who cannot produce a house registration document pursuant to the Civil Registration Act that has contained his or her name for more than than six months.

    This means, of course, that a Thai person must have had his or her name in a blue house book for more than six months.

    Likewise, a foreigner must have had his or her name in a yellow house book for more than six months.

    But see below.

    The law does not prohibit a foreigner from licensing a gun, and many foreigners have gun licenses.

    Foreigners' applications are now, however, much more strictly scrutinized than those of Thai nationals.

    We believe it is fair to say that few, if any, gun licenses will be issued to foreigners in the near future.

    More about this next time.

    James Finch of Chavalit Finch and Partners
    (
    finch[at]chavalitfinchlaw.com)

    and Nilobon Tangprasit of
    Siam City Law Offices Ltd
    (
    nilobon[at]siamcitylaw.com).

    Researcher: Sutatip Raktiprakorn.

    For more information visit
    www.chavalitfinchlaw.com.

    Comments? Questions? Contact us at
    the email addresses above.

    bangkokpost.com

  2. #2
    Nostradamus
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    In my experience the only foreigners that have guns in Thailand are spineless cowards or criminal types that this country could well do without.

  3. #3
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    How much experience is that?

    From what I've seen of the place gun ownership is almost essential.

    Legal or not.

  4. #4
    Thailand Expat harrybarracuda's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ubermensch View Post
    How much experience is that?

    From what I've seen of the place gun ownership is almost essential.

    Legal or not.
    Oh yes, always best to try and win a shootout with a local, isn't it.


  5. #5

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    dirtydog's Avatar
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    ^Only time my gun has ever been used in anger is when 3 Thais were trying to break in, my girlfriend shouted at them that she was going to call the police and they continued trying to break in, so she shot in their general direction.

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    Thailand Expat superman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nostradamus
    In my experience the only foreigners that have guns in Thailand are spineless cowards or criminal types that this country could well do without.
    When you've been burgled whilst you've slept then come back on and say that you don't need one. Nostradamus, you have no "experience".

  7. #7
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    Happy to live in the US where I have a permit to carry concealed after attending a training course. Plenty of people out there with weapons who want to do harm and break the law. Why shouldn't I have one to protect myself and my property?

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    Thailand Expat Airportwo's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nostradamus View Post
    In my experience the only foreigners that have guns in Thailand are spineless cowards or criminal types that this country could well do without.
    I am both a "spineless coward & criminal type" yet have no gun! Gotta get me one!

  9. #9
    Thailand Expat superman's Avatar
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    It's an unfortunate thing in that the criminals use illegal/non registered weapons, and you/we have to take a course and wait months to be legit to defend ourselves.

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    dirtydog's Avatar
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    No course in Thailand, license takes a couple of weeks at most, probably less now they have computers and shite.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Ubermensch View Post
    How much experience is that?

    From what I've seen of the place gun ownership is almost essential.

    Legal or not.
    Looks like it is a great place to start the Thai equivalent of the NRA.

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by superman View Post
    It's an unfortunate thing in that the criminals use illegal/non registered weapons, and you/we have to take a course and wait months to be legit to defend ourselves.

    I think taking a course is a great idea. I have experience from being in the US Army, but I'm not crazy about the idea of untrained people carrying. The course I went to was 8 hours of class and range time with a firing qualification at the range. This includes firing so many times at different distances and a written test over the law. They give a certificate then you take this paper to the Dept. of Motor Vehicles and you are fingerprinted, photographed, pay your money, and your background is checked. You then get a carry card which is like a drivers license in the mail in a month or so. This entitles you to carry a weapon concealed in public. If you are pulled over by the police you are to present this card with your drivers license to let the officer know you are carrying. The state I live in also offers a more extensive free course for training and firing your weapon if you don't feel comfortable.
    "he who thinks he knows, does not know; he who thinks he does not know, knows." Lao Tzu

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    dirtydog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mordred
    I think taking a course is a great idea.
    It should be enforced in every country, it gives the trainers time to evaluate whether the person is suitable, and the person some gun sense, ie don't point a gun at something you may not want to kill.

  14. #14

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    dirtydog's Avatar
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    Of course they need to sort out good instructors.


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    What a dumbass. Looks like he tried to chamber a round with his finger on the trigger. Wish I could see what the floor looked like. Glock makes a nice weapon. I carry the sub-compact Glock 40...the G 27.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirtydog View Post
    Of course they need to sort out good instructors.

    Thats unbelivable, the fuckwit took a loaded weapon into a classroom !
    I hope he no longer has a licence or a job.

  17. #17
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    A nephew of my wife was involved in a brawling incident that caused the police to come to our house to conduct a search for drugs. There were no drugs found but there was a small clip of bullets left over from WW2 in a display cabinet that were seized. Of course they seized the bullets so 'no loss of face' for the raid. my wife and I werent there at the time and would not have let the police in without a warrant...but anyhow....That problem is still working its way through the courts here and is becoming quite an expensive exercise for me and is a learing experience for my Thai family
    Just a Member number

  18. #18
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    there is no 2nd Ammendment in Thailand.

    last time I looked, there wasn't too many 2nd Ammendments anywhere else either.

    this means that if a cop sees that you're armed with a gun in most jurisdictions, you will require to show lawful excuse. And the burden of proof is on you. That goes for most places.

  19. #19
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    Is there a differnt licence in Thailand for a shotgun for those in rural areas ?

    No handguns in the UK.
    Firearms licence required for rifles.
    Shotgun certificate required for shotguns ( an entitlment unless police decide you are not suitable)

    I handed all my weapons in when the law changed and was well compensated by the goverment. I belive it was the firearm licence holders own fault when the law banned handguns. I always left my guns with the clubs armoury,if everyone had i dont think they would have been banned.

  20. #20
    Nostradamus
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    Quote Originally Posted by superman
    When you've been burgled whilst you've slept then come back on and say that you don't need one. Nostradamus, you have no "experience".
    Why would you need a gun though? Are you not masculine enough to survive a burglary without one?

  21. #21
    Nostradamus
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    Quote Originally Posted by ossierob
    my wife and I werent there at the time and would not have let the police in without a warrant...
    They don't need a warrant since last September. The Police can now enter any premises using the new cybercrime laws without a warrant.

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    I have never encountered a firearm that had a defense button, they are offensive in the nature of their use. I was brought up with firearms, used them in various capacities until coming to live in Thailand. Have lost friends and acquaintances who were on the receiving end and few were accidental.
    When last in the US, I was amazed at the people carrying in supermarket, barber shop, etc, and then those licensed to carry concealed. I do not know if this is a determent to armed robbery, but I have never heard of a shootout between a wantabe robber and a citizen (its probably happened) but the home breakins during non working hours seemed to be quite low. I admit to leaving a bar when someone came with a sidearm strapped on as I do in Thailand when police come in.I depend on security measures for the property and house, call police and let them handle it.

  23. #23

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    dirtydog's Avatar
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    ^It takes about 2 minutes to break into 90 percent of houses in Thailand, those security grills aint that good, whats the Thai police call out response time?

  24. #24
    Thailand Expat superman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nostradamus
    Why would you need a gun though? Are you not masculine enough to survive a burglary without one?
    You can be sure that the burglars won't want to be caught and will be definitely armed. This ain't the UK.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat superman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by pet coon
    .I depend on security measures for the property and house, call police and let them handle it.
    You don't live in rural Thailand do you Mr Pet Coon ? You try and call the police after hours and see what you get. They only do patrols to your property if you subscribe to a police fund. They install a letter box, containing a login book, to which they sign when visited. You can't be sure as to the credibility of their times of attendance. Plus they'll arrive by car which, due to it's headlights, will forewarn any potential burglars to hide. I did indeed install a burglar alarm but it triggered one night whilst I/we were away. The police refused to attend because I'd not subscribed to the policemans ball.
    Death is natures way of telling you to slow down.

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