Regarding the Oct. 22 article "Bill would toughen knife, gun law": Once again we see a typical knee-jerk reaction. While nothing can detract from the awful tragedy at Akihabara or Sasebo this year, I cannot help but shake my head at yet another feel-good, do-nothing proposal. Sure, it may sound good to those looking for quick-fix answers and "we gotta do something" rhetoric, but to punish law-abiding gun owners, and those who lawfully use the knives described in the article for outdoor recreation, wastes everyone's time and is laughable at best.
The low number of licensed gun owners who have committed serious offenses with their firearms is a testament to the most strict licensing system in the democratic world. The vast majority are completely innocent, yet remain the target of more government intervention. Most firearms are banned in this country, but ILLEGAL misuse of them is rarely touched upon!
What will come of making daggers and other double-edged knives that are at least 5.5 cm long illegal? Are we to assume that the Akihabara killer (June 8) would have stopped to think, "Hmmm, this 13-centimeter knife I'm planning to use is illegal, so I'd better find a legal one to comply with the current law"?
Isn't murder illegal? Doesn't it carry the death penalty? Handguns are completely banned, yet are commonly used in Japanese crimes involving firearms. The law doesn't seem to be working too well, does it? Or perhaps that's the intention: The inevitable failure of a gun law creates the need for more laws, leaving a fearful and completely defenseless public caught in the middle shouting, "Somebody save us."
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.