¶ … Land Without Guns: How Japan Has Virtually Eliminated Shooting Death, makes a comparative review of Japan's and America's deaths related to gun shooting. He begins by providing a case scenario indicating how America's policies regarding gun control are very loose as compared to stringent measures regarding ownership of gun in Japan. For instance, in Waikiki, there exists a Royal Shooting Club that mostly targets the Japanese tourists. The club carries out its gun-related business and shooting lessons in broad day light without fear of intimidation from the government. In other words, such businesses are legally recognized in USA. In contrast, this is considered as one of the greatest crimes back in Japan. For example, the author says a tourist who fires a few rounds in Hawaiian Royal Shooting Club would be breaking three separate laws if he or she was within the boundaries of Japan. These charges include illegal holding of a handgun, illegal possessing of bullets, and firing of the bullets (Fisher, 2012).
The author makes a comparative statistical analysis regarding illegal shooting incidences and notes that America is totally at crossroads. In 2008 alone, America experienced approximately 12,000 firearm related homicide cases. This compared unfavorably to 11 cases that were experienced in Japan. In another case, Japan recorded 2 shooting cases in 2006. When the number rose to 22, it became a national scandal. On the other hand, America experienced 587 death cases related to accidental shooting in 2008 (Fisher, 2012).
Unlike in America, gun ownership is absolutely discouraged in Japan. This has been achieved through legal measures including facing jail terms that range from one to ten years in prison. The author of this article asserts that handguns are absolutely forbidden. Similarly, trading or transferring of small caliber guns has been illegalized since 1971. Anyone who owned a gun before the restrictive law came in place is allowed to remain with it until their death. Afterwards, their family members are expected to hand it back to the authorities. Nonetheless, every rule has got a few exceptions. There are some Japanese citizens, though very few, who are permitted to legally buy short guns and air riffles. Nevertheless, the process is not easy as they have to undertake a whole day written exam and pass a shooting test in order to prove their competence. In addition, the police must verify that the applicant has no past criminal records or taken part in some extremist group. After receiving the gun, the owner must have it inspected once every year by the police and he or she must provide a written documentation about its location (Fisher, 2012).
The author acknowledges that cultural and historical differences could have played a big role in variations of laws relating to gun ownership. For instance, in America, gun ownership law starts from a premise that all citizens have a "right" to own a gun before narrowing down. On the other hand, in Japan, it is totally illegal for any citizen to own a gun. However, a few exceptions are permitted. In view of this, and in the wake of Obama's government lobbying to introduce laws restricting the ownership of firearms, it is undeniable that America needs to act expeditiously to save the vulnerable citizens.
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