To own a gun in Japan one has to do the following:
“first, you have to attend an all-day class and pass a written test, which are held only once per month. You also must take and pass a shooting range class. Then, head over to a hospital for a mental test and drug test (Japan is unusual in that potential gun owners must affirmatively prove their mental fitness), which you’ll file with the police. Finally, pass a rigorous background check for any criminal record or association with criminal or extremist groups, and you will be the proud new owner of your shotgun or air rifle. Just don’t forget to provide police with documentation on the specific location of the gun in your home, as well as the ammo, both of which must be locked and stored separately. And remember to have the police inspect the gun once per year and to re-take the class and exam every three years.”
We can’t even get our legislators to pass a tiny bit of restrictions. SMDH
Japanese law on guns: No person shall possess a firearm or firearms or a sword or swords.
US law on guns: A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
And the US Supreme Court has held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.
The nytimes has a link to a YouTube video where 100 rounds is fired from a M-16 in 7s. It takes quite a lot, probably more bullets than were fired in this case, to overheat a factory full auto to the point of failure. Then, 300 bullets spread over 10 minutes is a lot less likely to cause overheating problems, than if you tried to fire all 300 bullets in 90s. If you’re firing a stock semi-auto, you’re not going to be able to pull the trigger and swap magazines fast enough to overheat to the point of failure in 10 minutes. If it’s a semi-auto that’s been home modified for rapid fire(as might be the case here), I don’t know. It likely comes down to how professional of a job he did with the modifications.
Yes but there are some with firearms in Japan and if we would apply a tenth of hoops they have to jump through it would make a difference, which was the point of my post.
The Heller case also allowed regulation to be placed on the ownership which we seem to have a hard time doing.
You really want the police getting search warrants for every home in America, going through every closet, every drawer looking for guns to confiscate? Talk about violation of Constitutional rights.
But I would hope that this thing that turned the weapon into an automatic weapon would be banned.
California has the written test and the background check. The written test is so easy you can take it at the counter of the store and pass. The background check is a good idea but this guy, the Pulse nightclub guy, the Sandy Hook guy, they all passed the background checks. The criminals who wouldn’t pass just buy guns off the street.
“And the US Supreme Court has held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.”
Appears the most powerful guns he had in the hotel room arsenal were:
4 DDM4 rifles made by Daniel Defense
3 FN-15 rifles made by Sig Sauer
1 AK-47
1 Colt AR-15
Apparently some or all of these were modified with something called a “bump stock” to make them perform as an automatic. So for those of you familiar with guns, what would guns like this be normally used for by a regular consumer? They don’t look like the guns I have seen used for hunting or home defense. Who would buy these and for what purpose?
Pretty sure the AK-47 and AR-15 are for hunters who want to be prepared in case a huge herd of deer suddenly decide to stampede towards them. Happens frequently, so best to be ready.
But if you can sell a device to make a gun perform like an automatic, then how effective is the ban anyway?
Looks to me that automatics are prohibited unless grandfathered in, but semi-automatics are not banned. How much difference is there between the two relative to the amount of damage that can be done in a crowd of 22,000?
Heller didn’t establish the ability of the government to regulate guns. That had long been established. And we do regulate guns. Though in Heller, certain restrictions were struck down.
Purpose of citing Japan/US base laws was to show the two countries come at the issue from totally opposite positions. Thus regulations relating to guns will be very different.
I’ve been looking around on fb today and using certain words to try to find illegal online gun resales. Not only did I find a few, but someone helpfully posted a youtube link for converting that Colt AR-15 to fully automatic.
We are not the only ones talking about this and there is some very scary stuff out there.
Heller affirmed that we can regulate guns. Many folks read that opinion as if any restrictions on gun ownership are illegal. A restriction that renders a gun useless for self-defense in one’s home amounts to a complete ban and is unconstitutional. That does not mean other restrictions are off limits.
I am not one of them. So saying that in response to me citing Heller is as valid as my responding to you that many people think our next gun regulation will be our first.
The unfortunate fact is that guns are a part of the American culture, history, and psyche. They are not going anywhere. “We” have decided that there is NO price too high that we are not willing to pay it for the freedom to have as many and as deadly guns and ammo as our little hearts desire. Everyone may not agree, but the people who do are armed to the teeth against those who don’t. As a whole we accept the carnage and it is as much a part of the American Way as the guns themselves.
I do not disagree with you. Just pointing out to lurkers (that will inevitably come out and close down this thread) that decision is more nuanced. Also agree that comparisons to Japan or even Australia do not do any good.
