Crossbow possession banned in Japan after law revision takes effect

Mar 15, 2022 | News On Japan

Mar 15, 2022 () - A revised firearms control law took effect Tuesday, essentially banning most people from owning crossbows and requiring those who do to get a permit from their prefecture, following a 2020 incident in Hyogo Prefecture in which a man killed three family members with a crossbow.

Under the revised legislation, legitimate reasons for owning a crossbow are now limited to purposes such as needing one for shooting competitions or animal anesthesia. Current owners must apply for a permit with the public safety commission in their prefecture of residence within six months of the law having taken effect or they must dispose of the weapon.

Anyone using a crossbow without a permit or outside the permissible purposes could serve up to three years in prison or be fined up to ¥500,000. At present, the legislation targets crossbows capable of killing a person — which applies to nearly every crossbow on the market, according to a National Police Agency survey.

Since last year, Japanese police have been collecting crossbows from owners keen to hand them over, and they then dispose of the weapons at no charge. As of Feb. 15, they had collected 2,391 crossbows. But the total number of crossbows and crossbow owners in Japan is unclear, as the weapon could be purchased online and without a permit until now. ...continue reading

Source: ANNnewsCH

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