A 51-year-old office worker in Tokyo was sent to prosecutors on suspicion of violating the Swords and Firearms Act for possessing a Western-style bow called a "crossbow" without permission.

Crossbows were subject to a permit system in the same way as hunting guns due to the revision of the law last year.

A 51-year-old office worker in Mitaka City, Tokyo, was sent to the prosecutor's office on suspicion of violating the Firearms and Swords Act.



According to the Metropolitan Police Department, he is suspected of possessing a crossbow at his home in October last year.



An appraisal of the crossbow confiscated by the Metropolitan Police Department revealed that he was capable of killing.

In response to the investigation, he admitted to the charges such as "I bought something that was exhibited at an online auction 7 or 8 years ago because I thought it was rare."



Regarding crossbows, the revised firearms and swords law was enforced in March last year, and permission was required to possess them in the same way as hunting guns.



In addition, there is a suspicion that the man was selling air guns, which are prohibited to possess as "quasi-air guns", at an online auction. Ten people were also sent to the prosecutor on suspicion of violating the firearms and swords law.

Tighter regulations after a series of incidents of misuse of "crossbows"

While crossbows are used in sports competitions, there have been a series of incidents in which crossbows have been misused as weapons, such as the 2nd year of Reiwa, when three people were shot and killed in a house in Takarazuka City, Hyogo Prefecture.



An experiment by the Science Police Research Institute shows that an arrow shot from about 5 meters away penetrates a synthetic resin helmet that looks like a target.



In response to a series of incidents, the revised firearms and swords law was enforced in March last year, and permission was required to possess them in the same way as hunting guns.



Possession without permission is punishable by imprisonment for up to 3 years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.