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Phuket MP: Review shooting range near tourist spot due to safety fears

Phuket MP: Review shooting range near tourist spot due to safety fears

Matichon•Society•1d ago

Reader Briefing

A Phuket MP has called for an urgent review of permits for shooting ranges located near popular tourist attractions, citing significant safety risks and potential damage to the province's image.

  • •Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee is concerned about shooting ranges operating near tourist areas like Soi Bangla.
  • •Concerns include the use of real firearms and ammunition close to public areas, and potential risks if intoxicated tourists misuse weapons.
  • •The MP is urging authorities to tighten regulations and oversight for shooting range permits, noting a legal loophole for their operation.
  • •Issues of recurring flooding in Phuket were also raised, with calls for improved drainage maintenance.

Overview

  • •On May 7, Chalermpong Saengdee, MP for Phuket Constituency 2, raised concerns in parliament about shooting ranges near tourist spots.
  • •These shooting ranges operate near the Soi Bangla nightlife area in Patong, from 9 AM to 1:30 AM, using permits from the Sports Authority of Thailand.
  • •The use of real firearms and ammunition creates potential public safety risks and harms the tourism image, especially if intoxicated tourists misuse weapons.
  • •Chalermpong Saengdee highlighted a legal loophole allowing shooting ranges to operate as sports facilities, unlike other regulated sports.
  • •The MP requested that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Department of Local Administration, the Ministry of Interior, and the National Police Agency increase oversight and control.
  • •Phuket currently has approximately 8 licensed shooting ranges across Mueang Phuket, Thalang, and Kathu districts.
  • •There have been 2-3 reported cases of foreign tourists committing suicide using firearms on the premises of shooting ranges.
  • •Chalermpong Saengdee also addressed the issue of recurring flooding in Phuket during the rainy season, urging local administrations to clear canals and drainage systems.

Full article content is available on the original source.

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Source: Matichon (Original)

Key Quotes

Chalermpong Saengdee
"I compare certain sports like snooker, which should be legal, but are regulated under gambling laws. However, shooting ranges have a legal loophole to operate as sports facilities."
ตนขอเปรียบเทียบว่ากีฬาบางชนิดอย่างสนุกเกอร์ ควรจะเป็นกีฬาที่ถูกต้องตามกฏหมาย แต่กลับถูกกำหนดให้อยู่ภายใต้กฎหมายการพนัน หรือ พรบ.การพนัน แต่การเปิดสนามยิงปืนกลับมีช่องว่างทางกฎหมายให้ใช้เป็นสนามกีฬาได้
Chalermpong Saengdee
"If tourists become intoxicated and take guns out of the range and into tourist areas, it could cause danger to others."
หากนักท่องเที่ยวเกิดเมาและนำปืนออกไปนอกสนาม และเข้าไปในแหล่งท่องเที่ยวที่อาจจะเกิดอันตรายต่อผู้อื่นได้

Key Entities

Person

Phuket MP(สส.ภูเก็ต)
A Member of Parliament representing Phuket constituency 2 who is advocating for safety reviews of shooting ranges and flood mitigation.
Chalermpong Saengdee(นายเฉลิมพงศ์ แสงดี)
Member of Parliament for Phuket Constituency 2, affiliated with the People Party, who raised a parliamentary question regarding shooting ranges and flooding.
Adul Choothong(นายกองเอกอดุลย์ ชูทอง)
Deputy Governor of Phuket who participated in an inspection of a shooting range near a tourist area.
Rungruang Thimabutr(นายรุ่งเรือง ธิมาบุตร)
Phuket Provincial Secretary who participated in an inspection of a shooting range near a tourist area.

Organization

People Party(พรรคประชาชน)
The political party to which MP Chalermpong Saengdee belongs.
Sports Authority of Thailand(การกีฬาแห่งประเทศไทย)
The government agency that issues permits for sports facilities, including the shooting ranges in question.
Thailand Shooting Sport Association(สมาคมกีฬายิงปืนแห่งประเทศไทย)
An organization that apparently grants licenses or operating rights for shooting ranges, operating under the Sports Authority of Thailand.
Ministry of Tourism and Sports(กระทรวงการท่องเที่ยวและกีฬา)
A government ministry responsible for tourism and sports, urged to oversee shooting range regulations.
Department of Local Administration(กรมการปกครอง)
A government department under the Ministry of Interior whose oversight is requested for shooting range permits.
Ministry of Interior(กระทรวงมหาดไทย)
The ministry responsible for local administration and public order, which is requested to increase supervision of shooting ranges.
National Police Agency(สำนักงานตำรวจแห่งชาติ)
The national law enforcement agency requested to increase surveillance and enforcement regarding safety at shooting ranges.
Kathu District Administrative Officials(เจ้าหน้าที่ฝ่ายปกครองอำเภอกะทู้)
Local administrative officials who participated in the inspection of a shooting range in Patong.
Local Administrative Organizations(องค์กรปกครองส่วนท้องถิ่น)
Local government bodies responsible for public services, urged to address flooding issues in Phuket by clearing waterways.

Place

Tourist Area(แหล่งท่องเที่ยว)
General term for locations attracting tourists, specifically high-risk areas identified near shooting ranges in Phuket.
Shooting Range(สนามยิงปืน)
Facilities where firearms are discharged, currently under scrutiny for their proximity to tourist areas in Phuket.
Soi Bangla(ซอยบางลา)
A well-known nightlife tourist street in Patong, Phuket, located near a shooting range that has raised safety concerns.
Patong Subdistrict(ตำบลป่าตอง)
The subdistrict in Phuket where Soi Bangla and a controversial shooting range are located.
Mueang Phuket District(อำเภอเมืองภูเก็ต)
One of the administrative districts in Phuket province where shooting ranges are licensed.
Thalang District(อำเภอถลาง)
One of the administrative districts in Phuket province where shooting ranges are licensed.
Kathu District(อำเภอกะทู้)
One of the administrative districts in Phuket province where shooting ranges are licensed, and a check was conducted.

Law

Gambling Act(พรบ.การพนัน)
Legislation regulating gambling activities in Thailand, contrasted with the perceived lack of regulation for shooting ranges.