In response to a series of violent crimes involving firearms, the government has decided to apply the ``discharge offense'', which was previously established for handguns under the Firearms and Swords Act, to hunting rifles and other firearms. The Cabinet approved a bill to revise the Firearms and Swords Act, which includes stricter regulations and penalties regarding guns.
The Firearms and Swords Act provides a ``discharge offense'' for ``handguns, etc.'' that carries a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
On the other hand, in the case of former Prime Minister Abe being shot in July last year, a homemade gun that was not classified as a handgun was seized from the defendant's home, and in May of last year in Nagano Prefecture, two police officers were also arrested. In the incident in which four people were murdered, a hunting rifle called a "half rifle" was used in the crime.
On the 1st, the government approved a bill to revise the Firearms and Swords Act, which includes stricter gun regulations and penalties, as it is assumed that guns will be misused for violent crimes regardless of the type of crime.
In addition to the conventional "handguns, etc.," the proposed amendment would also apply the "discharge offense" to "shooting rifles" and "other firearms such as air rifles," so that if a person possesses such a firearm with the intent to kill or injure someone. The legal penalty for firearms will also be raised to ``1 year to 10 years' imprisonment,'' the same as for handguns.
In addition, new penalties will be established for posting content that incites people to manufacture and possess guns, as it is necessary to take measures to address the current situation where gun manufacturing methods are easily available on the Internet.
The government is aiming to pass the amendment bill during the current ordinary session of the Diet.