Japanese Government and Handguns - Joint Action Program
Government of Japan
27 December 1994
SSAA COMMENT: This Japanese Government document acknowledges that handguns are strictly controlled within its own borders, and further admits that a major portion of handguns seized over a number of years were smuggled in from abroad. Japan boasts about its "high standard of public safety", which it states is a result of strict control of handguns, yet admits to a "worrisome" situation of crimes involving handguns.
Which is it?
Totally confused, the Japanese Government pursues a non-existent solution to a criminal problem it cannot, like other global Governments, solve. Like the Howard Liberal Government of Australia, Japan seeks to cure the problem of criminal use of firearms, by tightening the firearm laws which law abiding gun-owners respect. If the Japanese Government followed "the Australian way", does it they really think criminal activity using firearms will cease? A safer Japan? A safer Australia? A political mind may think so - a real mind would not.
John Howard was astute enough to give a speech in which he said that he "didn't for one moment" think that the confiscation of firearms would stop another Port Arthur from happening. Good of the Prime Minister to have a bet both ways. In fact John Howard's Chairman of the Firearms Task Force indicated at a public meeting in the Naracoorte Town Hall, South Australia, that the Federal Government did not have a problem with criminal use of firearms. The crowd of two hundred gun-owners were delighted to hear that.
Japan uses the United Nations to advise other countries to clean up their act in relation to the use and export of handguns. With no pro-gun lobby to confront within its own country, Japan's internal policies are a problem for firearms owners world-wide. John Howard's problem will be that there is a gun lobby in Australia.
Joint Action Program
For Stepped - Up Enforcement on Handguns
The handgun problems in Japan
Lately, there has been observed a great increase in the number of felonies asociated with handguns. Until quite recently, a major portion of shooting incidents were attributed to rivalry conflicts among Boryokudan organized crime syndicates. But now, not only are more and more common citizens becoming victims of crimes using handguns, but seizure of handguns from persons other than Boryokudan syndicate members has been increasing. There exists a serious concern over the further spread of handguns among the common citizenry.
Examination of seized handguns' sources indicates that a major portion of the handguns seized over the recent years are those smuggled into Japan from abroad. With the increasing size and scale of international transport of freight and movement of people, there is a growing possibility that more and more handguns will be smuggled into Japan from abroad.
In Japan, firearms including handguns are strictly controlled, which has been considered a primary factor in contributing to the high standard of public safety in our country. However, the current situation of crimes associated with handguns is so worrisome that if unchecked, it can, in the near future, pose a serious threat to the very foundation of the free and democratic society of Japan.
Bearing in mind that securing the safety of the citizens is the government's most fundamental duty, government ministries and agencies concerned should do their utmost to step up control on handguns.
JOINT ACTION PROGRAM FOR STEPPED - UP ENFORCEMENT ON HANDGUNS ADOPTED BY THE LIAISON COUNCIL OF THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES CONCERNING CONTROL MEASURES ON HANDGUNS
1. Efforts of top priority
(1) Stepped-up control measures on handguns
in a bid to augment control measures on handguns and ammunition and to promote the cooperation of government ministries and agencies concerned, the Liason Council has agreed:
to establish a more comprehensive control system with meetings at national and regional levels respectively: National Handgun Control Council and Regiional Liaison Councils;
to provide the personnel necessary for the crackdown on handguns and adopt systematic training programs for specialized investigators; and
to set up efforts to investigate criminal cases associated with handguns by increasing the use of covert invetigation techniques and by making more extensive searches for handguns.
(2) "Water's-edge" enforcement on smuggling of handguns
A major portion of handguns illegally used or possessed in Japan are foreign made handguns smuggled into Japan from abroad. With this in mind, in order to strengthen ''water's-edge'' enforcement on smuggling of handguns, the Liaison Council has agreed:
to investigate handgun smuggling cases by forming a "joint task force", to be composed of the concerned ministries and agencies in an attempt to promote efforts to eliminate smuggling of handguns at the "water's-edge through the cooperation of the relevant government offices; and
to increase efforts to check in-bound passengers, freight and postal matter, etc.
(3) Promotion of international cooperation
Considering that, wth the increasing size and scale of international transport of freight and movement of people, no state is immune to the effects of legislative and administrative control of firearms in other states. In the hope of promoting international cooperation, the Liaison Council has agreed:
to make appeals to neighbouring countries for more effective and appropriate gun control measures in their respective countries and promote candid discussions on gun control at international forums such as the U.N.; and
to promote international collaboration in criminal investigations to combat handgun smuggling by establishing an information exchange network among the concerned countries.
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(4) Securing public understanding and cooperation
In order to secure public understanding and cooperation relating to stepped-up efforts by the government to eliminate handguns, the Liaison Council has agreed to promote a public awareness campaign using the slogan "No More Guns".
2. Measures for further consideration
As further measures to strengthen the handgun control, the Liaison Council has agreed:
to consider an integrated information management on criminal cases involving the use of handguns among government ministries and agencies concerned; and
to consider tougher legislation against handguns
Reference
Government ministries and agencies represented at the Liaison Council:
CABINET COUNCILLOR'S OFFICE ON INTERNAL AFFAIRS
NATIONAL POLICE AGENCY
MINISRTY OF JUSTICE
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INDUSTRY
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT
MINISTRY OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
MARITIME SAFETY AGENCY
FISHERIES AGENCY
Copy held SSAA National
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