Thailand has recently witnessed a series of shooting incidents, and as public attention to gun control intensifies, the provincial government of Surat Thani organized a local government celebration where five long hunting rifles were offered as lottery prizes, sparking widespread debate.
In response, a senior official from the Ministry of the Interior stated on the 13th that after the conclusion of this activity where hunting rifles were awarded as prizes to public servants, such activities will come to an end.
During the 134th Anniversary "Village Leader Day" celebration held by Koh Phangan district, Surat Thani on the 10th of this month, five long-barreled shotgun hunting rifles were given to lottery winners (four on Koh Tao, one on Koh Phangan). Related photos, once published, immediately triggered heated online debate.
Songchai, a local councilor from Surat Thani, confirmed in an interview that during the 134th Anniversary "Village Leader Day" celebration, long-barreled hunting rifles were indeed awarded as lottery prizes. This type of lottery activity has been held for three or four consecutive years.
In response to the public, the Director General of the Department of Local Administration, Narucha, stated that, as part of a new series of gun control rules announced this week, firearms will no longer be used as prizes awarded to township chiefs and village leaders.
At the same time, local officials indicated that although firearms had been used as lottery prizes in previous years on this tourist island in Surat Thani province, this year the winners received cash.
Surat Thani's Governor, I Chuenboh, acknowledged the uproar on social media and said that although an agreement had been reached to designate firearms as the prize to be drawn, in reality, no guns were actually handed over; instead, cash was given to the winners, and they could decide for themselves whether to use this money to buy a gun.
He said: "The gun was solely a symbolic prize." Nevertheless, the timing of the event and images of participants holding large photos of hunting rifles still sparked doubts. Prime Minister Anutin, who also serves as Interior Minister, ordered officials to ensure no further gun lottery events are held.
On the same day as the event in Koh Phangan, another shooting occurred in Nonthaburi province, where a former MP killed a former police officer who was the chairman of an administrative committee.
In response to the Nonthaburi incident, on the 11th, Anutin ordered a total ban on the issuance of new gun licenses and suspended the controversial "welfare gun" scheme for public servants.
He also ordered the drafting of a new gun control law within 60 days, emphasizing the use of technology to track weapon sales and registration.
On August 7, a serious school shooting occurred in Nonthaburi province, Thailand. A 14-year-old student allegedly opened fire both at home and at school, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries. The incident shocked Thai society and further heightened external concerns over the country's gun acquisition and management systems.