comprehensive structural reform of national firearm regulations following a series of deadly shooting cases that claimed 10 lives within seven days in early August 2026.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin publicly condemned the frequent gun violence and stressed the urgency of revising the outdated Firearms Act, which has remained largely unchanged since 1947. The Ministry of Interior is leading the legislative upgrade to close long-standing legal loopholes in gun possession, registration and circulation supervision.
Authorities revealed that a voluntary weapon surrender program is under active consideration as a core measure, replacing the previously discussed gun buyback scheme. Officials explained that the buyback plan would impose excessive fiscal pressure on the national budget, while voluntary surrender can effectively reduce illegal firearms in society with lower public expenditure.
The new regulatory framework will strengthen background checks for gun applicants, tighten restrictions on civilian gun ownership, and establish a full lifecycle supervision system for firearms. The government aims to finalize the bill draft and submit it to parliament for review within the fourth quarter of 2026 to curb rampant gun-related crimes.
