Thai lawmakers apply for discounted guns, permits

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.