Swan shot by arrow dies in Saitama

Is this part of Abe's economic plan?

Ah, good old Saitama! Stabbing seeing-eye dogs, drop-kicking the visually impaired, and now shooting poor animals with crossbows. Hope they catch this guy and punish him accordingly. Poor swan.

Police said Monday the person who fired the arrow faces animal cruelty charges for violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, NTV reported.

Eh? How about possession of a lethal weapon? And, discharging the weapon in a public place? Is it legal to own a crossbow in Japan?

Yes, crossbows are legal here. I was recently at shop for war geeks here in Tokyo and they have every kind of non-gun weapon you can think of: huge Rambo knives, machetes, dozens of hunting knives, knuckle dusters, handcuffs, swat clothing, FBI jackets, exact replicas of AK-47S, etc. Weird what is legal here and what isn't. Poor swan was a victim of this closet industry for war nerds too afraid to join Isis but not too chicken to slaughter an innocent bird in their own backyard.

Ah, good old Saitama!

Give it a rest Smith, seriously. A guy stabbed 5 people in Awaji today - you going to post 'Ah, good old Hyogo!' as well?

Capn Sindbad:

" Yes, crossbows are legal here. I was recently at shop for war geeks here in Tokyo and they have every kind of non-gun weapon you can think of: huge Rambo knives, machetes, dozens of hunting knives, knuckle dusters, handcuffs, swat clothing, FBI jackets, exact replicas of AK-47S, etc. Weird what is legal here and what isn't. "

Actually, the Rambo knifes are definitely not legal here, at least not for carrying them on you. 6 cm is the blade limit; even scissors bigger than that will get you in trouble if have them on you.

Crossbows are not legal in Japan.

Sadistic a-holes, have nothing better to do than kill an innocent animal. The person who did it belongs in a cage.

Ah, good old Saitama! Stabbing seeing-eye dogs, drop-kicking the visually impaired, and now shooting poor animals with crossbows.

National protected deer killed by crossbow in Nara Park, Cat drowned then posted on YouTube in Nagano, 40 dead dog carcasses tossed in river in Tochigi. Guess animal cruelty happens only in one place huh?

@ WilliB - Tru dat, I was once stopped and searched by police at Tachikawa eki for (being gaijin in public) wearing a camouflage jacket and carrying my fishing pole case over my shoulder like a rifle. In my backpack was a leather man super tool which had two blades. They got very nervous and told me I couldn't carry that around.

Ah, good old Saitama! Stabbing seeing-eye dogs, drop-kicking the visually impaired, and now shooting poor animals with crossbows. Hope they catch this guy and punish him accordingly. Poor swan.

Has it ever crossed your sad mind that the swan could have been shot in another prefecture

Keika1628 a swan with an arrow in its side doesn't fly far. Was it a kid or an older guy who did it?

What a stupid and cruel thing to do.

onagagamoMar. 09, 2015 - 09:05PM JST Crossbows are not legal in Japan.

Whether or not they are legal to carry around, they are, like CapnSinbad says, sold in most nerd shops.

Even swans aren't safe in Saitama.

Is this part of Abe's economic plan?

I was wondering where that "third arrow" had gone...