BANGKOK — About half of Thailand's national lawmakers are taking advantage of a new government plan allowing them to purchase guns at a discount and receive a license to carry them anywhere, an official said Monday.
Election campaigns in Thailand's rural areas are sometimes violent, and most campaigns are marked by several deaths, usually of vote canvassers who buy votes for their candidates. The new program was arranged at the request of lawmakers, said Pranee Siridhammakun of the Interior Ministry's Provincial Administration Department
The offer was more popular with opposition politicians who cannot rely on police or soldiers for protection, lawmaker Sakda Khongphet of the opposition Puea Thai party was quoted saying by the Bangkok Post newspaper.
Between 300 and 400 of the country's 630 legislators have applied under the program, Pranee said.
Teachers in the country's deep south in recent years have also been allowed to obtain weapons under similar terms after becoming targets of Muslim separatist insurgents.
Some legislators, however, scoffed at the scheme.
"I don't agree with this campaign. No matter whether you're an MP from the government or opposition side, there is no need to carry a gun," Sirichoke Sopa of the ruling Democrat Party told The Associated Press. "Carrying guns will cause more crime. As MPs, we should stand for people who solve problems without violence. It's better talking and not using a gun."
Pranee said the prices of the guns were not yet fixed and would depend on the quantity purchased. Anant Sriphan, another Puea Thai MP, was quoted by the Post as saying the prices were expected to be "very cheap."
Source: AP
Thoughts: Politicians are basically licensed thieves and criminals anyway so giving them guns is just the next step I guess.
Pete 
