Japan & Guns

Spurned on by all of the model novelty guns showcased at KAC's CAFE Beer & Kiyono Arms - a combination bar and US Marine Corp novelty store located down the street from us (see 5/10/09 post) - I decided to check out Japan's gun laws. I've heard from some co-workers that guns are illegal in Japan. I've heard from others that they are, in fact, legal but only can be used to hunt. After a little research, it appears both statements are accurate.

While gun control in Japan is considered stringent compared to most democracies, there a some exceptions. No citizen is allowed to possess guns, unless they are for sporting (hunting, skeet, or trap shooting). Furthermore, the guns are limited to shotguns and single-shot rifles. No handguns or semi-automatics are permitted. Before you can acquire one of these guns for hunting or sport, you must take a class and pass a written test. After passing the first time, the gun owner must repeat the test every year thereafter. Furthermore, every 3 months police will come on an 'unexpected' visit to inspect gun and ammunition storage. And oh yeah, the gun and ammunition must be stored in a designated locker with a corresponding map of its location in the house for when the police show up.

It should be noted that the military and police are allowed to carry semi and full automatic guns. But the main point is that there is no, 'Right to bear arms', mentality here. That is a far cry from the message often referred to in the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution - a rally cry for many in the States. I know it's our right, and I'm far too naive to seriously argue for or against the right to bear arms. Truth be told, I've just never liked guns. It is an awful lot of power for a human to hold, regardless of how 'responsible' he or she may be. I've also never understood why that right has to include semi automatics. It's just a different mentality I guess. Perhaps that's the best way to explain Japan's gun laws - just a different mentality as well. A mentality that has produced a nation with one of the lowest amount of gun violence in the world. From a 2007 Japan Times article:

According to the 2006 Police White Paper, in 2005, Japan had a grand total 19 firearms-related homicides, of which only five were non-gang related and none of whom were minors. This remarkably low number, moreover, represented a marked decline from 2002, when 42 people were killed in gun violence.