BANGKOK — 11 August 2026, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said civilians must not carry firearms outside their homes, warning that anyone who does so faces prison — including politicians and sport shooters.
Speaking at Government House, Anutin said the government was moving quickly on gun control after he instructed Deputy Prime Minister Pakorn Nilprapunt to draft a new firearms law.
He said the Interior Ministry and Royal Thai Police had been ordered to halt the renewal of licences under the Por. 3, Por. 4 and Por. 12 categories until the Cabinet decides otherwise. Details of the legal changes should be sought from Pakorn, he said.
Anutin said enforcement must become tougher and more decisive. Police and administrative officials would set up checkpoints focused on firearms and drugs, he said, adding that officers had found several cases the previous night.
He said police would oppose bail during investigations in appropriate cases, meaning suspects could be held in custody.
“Do not believe anyone who tells you to carry a gun for self-defence,”
Anutin said. “Most people carrying guns end up harming themselves. It is a dangerous thing.”
He said ammunition would also be covered by the new law.
Asked about the difficulty of controlling online gun sales, Anutin said the issue was straightforward: if people did not have a valid licence, they could not possess a firearm.
“You cannot possess one. If you do, it is prison, period.” he said, adding that the government would consult prosecutors and courts to seek fast and decisive handling of gun cases and opposition to bail where appropriate.
Anutin said legally registered guns could be kept only at home, while illegal guns would have to be surrendered within a period to be set by law. Guns that cannot legally be transferred, including some inherited firearms, could also be handed in without punishment during a specified grace period, he said.
He said civilians who are not state officials performing their duties would be prohibited from carrying guns outside their homes.
“It is now a 100% ban on carrying firearms,” he said. “If you do it, you break the law and go to prison.”
The rule would also apply to competitive shooters, Anutin said. Firearms used for training would have to be stored at shooting ranges, while shooters would buy and use ammunition there before leaving their guns at the facility.
“There will be no exceptions,” he said.
Anutin said families should watch for threatening or violent behaviour by relatives who own guns. Taking a gun outside the home would be illegal, he said, and people could not claim ignorance of the law.
He also said he planned to order random checks at Government House, including of ministers’ aides and close associates.
“If they are carrying a gun and are not police officers on duty, they are on their own,” he said.
Asked whether a gun owner could use a firearm to defend themselves against an intruder inside their home, Anutin said shooting a burglar could still be unlawful.
“Try shooting a thief in your home — it is still wrong,” he said. “The law does not protect that.”
He said guns were not good objects to keep close at hand because owners may believe they have power over others and act rashly in moments of pressure or anger.
“We cannot make everyone happy, but we must make people safe — especially innocent members of the public and children,” he said.
Anutin said he once owned guns but reported them missing after they were lost and now had none. When told that his wife’s asset declaration listed firearms, he replied: “Really? Then I suppose I’ll have to watch out for myself.”
Asked whether the government would hold a merit-making ceremony for the country after repeated violent incidents, Anutin said: “Just do good deeds.”
