Japanese gun control

[mauser]

The last few sentences of the story tell the story better than the rest of the article. Those words should be first, but I digress.
Here are the last few words:

"Despite the laws, high-profile gunbattles between gangsters have increased. Of the 53 shootings reported in 2006, two-thirds — 36 — were blamed on organized crime groups, the National Police Agency says."

Private handguns are banned in Japan, and only police officers and other professionals such as shooting instructors can own them. Hunting rifles are strictly licensed and regulated."

And here's a link to the story as printed:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070425/...an_gun_control

[dmg1969]

Yeah, I read that article. Priceless.

[Guy Fawkes]

I saw the same article a few days ago, just goes to prove that gun control works so well!!!



Guy

[jsb889]

Gun control works so well everywhere else, its only logical that we disallow the use of handguns and assault rifles here. I mean, D.C.'s gun control did so much good at stopping violence there, and now Japan, man....it only makes sense!

[1911shooter]

yeah that a great job of keeping the guns from the criminals and not letting the citizens have them........ but then again its a joke and it should be looked upon by the reader to reconize it wont work anywhere.

[1FingrCHan]

See here, seem that BG can get guns even in the strictest gun control nation:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapc....ap/index.html

Them Japanese also got the highest ratio of police to civilian, maybe second to China which I have heard. But it didn't protect even the mayor. Something ain't right.



1FingrCHan

[Cole]

Just playing Devil's advocate here, but the rate of gun crime throughout the whole country of Japan compares pretty favorably to that to the City of Philadelphia alone.

[mauser]

Originally Posted by Cole

Just playing Devil's advocate here, but the rate of gun crime throughout the whole country of Japan compares pretty favorably to that to the City of Philadelphia alone.

The Japanese culture is very different than ours. The term "Shame Face" is very prevelant in the asian world. People have been known to comit Hari Kari because they made a mistake at work and disgraced their boss or coworkers. Honor pride and discipline are on a different level there. The higher level of respect would explain the lower crime rate. In my opinion, the higher level of respect and discipline is due largely to family values and pride. Strict enforcement of laws in conjunction with severe punnishment is also a very large factor.

The basic point I was trying to highlight is that even with their strict control and regulation, the criminals are still the ones who are armed. The ones who are intent on breaking the laws don't really care which laws they break.
The object in hand isn't the problem, the problem lies in the thoughts and actions of the individual.

[1FingrCHan]

Originally Posted by mauser

The Japanese culture is very different than ours. The term "Shame Face" is very prevelant in the asian world. People have been known to comit Hari Kari because they made a mistake at work and disgraced their boss or coworkers. Honor pride and discipline are on a different level there. The higher level of respect would explain the lower crime rate.

The basic point I was trying to highlight is that even with their strict control and regulation, the criminals are still the ones who are armed. The ones who are intent on breaking the laws don't really care which laws they break.
The object in hand isn't the problem, the problem lies in the thoughts and actions of the individual.

You are right, Asian "shame" is the equivalent of Westerner "guilt". For example that VT shooter's parent would bear the "shame" that their son had created. In Japan, I think if this happened, the parent might commit suicide. In America, a little "guilt" won't lead them to suicide, maybe they hit the bar and get loaded up on liquor but that is all about it.



1FingrCHan