Rising gun crimes tarnish reputation of Thais

In the line of fire: The violence in Thailand not only affects bystanders caught in the crossfire but also erodes people’s perception of how safe Thailand is. — AFP

BANGKOK: Until recently, Bangkok Dangerous was merely a popular action film. But Thailand may soon be known less as the “Land of Smiles” than as one of the most dangerous countries on earth.

A recent Reuters report headlined “Friendly Thailand stares down the barrel of rising gun crime” offers a stark picture. Reuters reports that Thailand has the highest number of guns in civilian hands in South-East Asia – almost four times more than the Philippines, a country notorious for violent gun crime.