Democrat Spokesman Slams Gun Ban Policy, Leaving Thai Police Unarmed

On August 11, 2026, Mr. Pongsakorn Kwanmuang, spokesman for the Democrat Party, voiced strong opposition against the government's strict measures to suspend all firearm purchasing licenses. This policy notably covers police officers and state officials, with the administration citing the difficulty of regulating online gun transactions as the primary reason.

Pongsakorn stated that while the initial intention may aim at reducing societal violence, the actual outcome is creating a concerning security disparity. Accepting that the digital realm is too difficult to regulate amounts to yielding to the problem and effectively grants the black market room to expand freely.

"When law enforcement officers have no weapons, but criminals can freely buy illegal guns, who can we rely on for safety?"

Pongsakorn Kwanmuang

The direct consequence of suspending all license issuances is that police officers performing high-risk duties daily find themselves without firearms. Meanwhile, wrongdoers continue to acquire illegal weapons at will, highlighting severe flaws in the state's security prioritization.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

The Democrat Party proposed targeted solutions, calling on the government to dismantle illegal online gun networks systematically. This requires integrated cooperation alongside the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau to aggressively eradicate illicit weapon sales groups.