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No guns

46 Comments

This poster by the National Police Agency has been put up at some train and subway stations as part of a campaign against gun crimes in Japan.

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Maybe this would be more adequate in the US.

8 ( +18 / -10 )

Talk about your low hanging fruit for public awareness campaigns. The gun crime rate in Japan is already practically zero.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

What a waste of time and money.

19 ( +22 / -4 )

At least 'knives' would have some correlation to japan, but guns? Really?! Someone has been watching too many police dramas.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Probably evidence of discretionary spending accounts that MUST be used up before the end of the year, posters division,

and they didn't have any wanted posters to make and not enough $ for a barely famous model to advertise safe driving or drugs. So they went with this.

Still, really weird. The only handguns in Japan are owned by professional criminals, and anyway, if anything, this makes guns look cool.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

What gun crimes? Well I guess that poor gyoza guy got shot in Kyoto a couple months ago, but aside from that...

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Aside from the fact the Hammer is in the REAR position (meaning this gun is ready to FIRE), this guy is practicing Safe gun handling, note that his finger is NOT in the Trigger Guard, therefore, the gun will not be fired by "Accident ". Good job.

Oh, by the way, contrary to POPULAR BELIEF, gun ownership is NOT ILLEGAL in J-Pan ! Do some RESEARCH.

Yes; no doubt someone had a bit of Budget money left over that needed to be spent, or NEXT year's budget will be SMALLER.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Dear Yakuza-san, please stop killing people with guns. We kindly ask you to use less obnoxious methods, such as stabbing, strangulation, drowning, or beating. Best regards, The National Police Agency

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Stopping violent crime isn't quite as simple as banning handguns, but it takes away the deadly tools.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

This is preaching to the choir, no? For a country with such low gun-crime, people in Japan always seem a little hyper concerned about them, or about traveling to countries where they are legal.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

For a country with such low gun-crime, people in Japan always seem a little hyper concerned about them, or about traveling to countries where they are legal.

Not just Japanese people - I'm afraid to go to countries with a gun culture. Armed police, fine... armed civvies - no thanks.

Gun laws in Japan:

The only types of firearms which a Japanese citizen may acquire are rifles or shotguns. Sportsmen are permitted to possess rifles or shotguns for hunting and for skeet and trap shooting, but only after submitting to a lengthy licensing procedure. Without a license, a Japanese citizen may not even hold a gun in his or her hands. (Wiki)

It's a good poster though. I like the fact that it is clearly a police officer gripping the other hand. Nice one.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Thunderbird2: Armed police, fine... armed civvies - no thanks.

Really? Heh... based on my experience with the police, they'd be among the LAST people I'd want to have the only guns.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

I'm afraid to go to countries with a gun culture. Armed police, fine... armed civvies - no thanks.

I agree. I prefer to stay in sane countries.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Their next poster will read:

Stop light saber dueling!

Then give us some numbers to call should we witness any wanna-be Jedis having a go at each other!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

I dont think the Yakuza ride the train

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Message: When you see a man with a gun, wrestle it away from him. Then call the number at the bottom.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Strangerland: I agree. I prefer to stay in sane countries.

That's unfair, although an understandable opinion if you've never lived in a country with legalized firearms. When it's not part of your culture, and when your only exposure to it is movies and TV and sensationalized news about the odd psychotic person, it's hard to imagine it being a good thing. But I strongly defend it as one.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

The only types of firearms which a Japanese citizen may acquire are rifles or shotguns.

Sort of. There are a few very limited routes to legal handgun possession in Japan. The most common one is to become a competitive pistol shooter who participates in or trains for international events. But by "most common" I still mean rather uncommon, since the total number of pistol licenses granted on that basis is barely 100 nationwide, as I recall.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My only problem with the poster is that is fails to address the equally pressing blow dart issue in Japan.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Even then ownership of shot guns and rifles is limited to magazine capacity and bolt action. No pumps with large capacity and bolt action rifles. Circuit pistols and race pistols are also regulated. All firearms have to locked on premises in a secure are and you have to allow for random inspections by local police agencies. IF willing to pay through the nose and for the paper work gun ownership is possible and relatively easy going. Ammo is also hard to get in ample amounts.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

waste of public money, where have you heard about guns here except from Chinese hitmen ( who wont read it ) or hunting shotgun wielding 90 yeard old men who ..wont read that too...

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

I'm going to ask my J-police students about this - what were they thinking!? The only people with access to guns in Japan are the borakudan (yakusa) - like this is going to influence them; they don't even take the trains!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Graphically, that is a great poster! Love the 50's look.Cool gun, limp-handed assailant, strong-handed uniformed protector, and all the people running away like Gojira-san has just arrived to rampage! Oh, and yeah, what guns? On trains? Really?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Umm,

I dont understand this poster at all.

There are very few gun crimes in Japan already If someone pulled a gun, every Japanese and his dog would go running for cover, hell if someone even pulled a pocket knife it would take a very brave soul to try to stop them. I am not criticising the people, it is just that people here tend to avoid any kind of confrontation.

That being said, what is the purpose of the poster?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

They really need a stop knife crimes campaign.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Alex EinzFEB. 06, 2014 - 06:04PM JST waste of public money, where have you heard about guns here except from Chinese hitmen ( who wont read it ) or hunting shotgun wielding 90 yeard old men who ..wont read that too...

Please don't encourage the J-mass media in profiling Chinese as gun-toting bandits, we have enough of that already. It's the Japanese organised crime syndicates that have gun access. Still like I said, is this poster targeting them as they ride trains? I will ask some police officers at work this week.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Gun crime is a tiny problem in Japan. Do you think the gangsters pay attention to posters?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Credit to the poetic side of the police: the text portion is a haiku (albeit without any of the obligatory seasonal words). They often do this with traffic signs as well.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Geeeezus! Would have been more appropriate if the hand held a piece of mochi instead of a gun....doh!

Glad to see my taxes are being wasted instead of being put to good use!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

actually I might call the number tomorrow to ask if I was the first person to call it

1 ( +2 / -1 )

According to some of J-friends there are more guns in J-society than you would think - not just yakuza yo.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

what a waste of good toilet paper, cool poster though :P

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@ Strangerland

I'm afraid to go to countries with a gun culture. Armed police, fine... armed civvies - no thanks.

GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE DO! SO WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU GOING TO?

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE DO!

Yeah, with guns.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Love the double diamond rosewood grips!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@kaimycahl... that was my comment, quoted by Strangerland, lol

Ah, the old...

GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE DO!

...line so beloved of gun supporters. I was wondering when our favourite soundbite would show up again.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

That's unfair, although an understandable opinion if you've never lived in a country with legalized firearms.

What's unfair about it? I don't have to worry about getting shot, ever. If I lived in a country with legalized firearms, I could get shot at any given time - at the mall, at work, walking down the road. You may say the odds are low, I say they are almost zero if there are no guns. The point being that there is nothing unfair whatsoever about my comment. If there are no guns, people cannot get shot. Therefore letting the population arm itself is insane, and therefore my comment about preferring to live in sane countries.

GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE DO! SO WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU GOING TO?

People kill people a lot less when there are no guns.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

One thing that might be causing this is that the police are finding an increasing number of firearms in criminal hands.

Remember not every crime that is known to police is going to be on TV or in the papers. So I wouldn't be surprise if there has been a surge in gun confiscations by police that is triggering this.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Because there are so many....?

I'm confused.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

. So I wouldn't be surprise if there has been a surge in gun confiscations by police that is triggering this.

I suppose you're right, some of the gaijin gangs are probably importing illegal guns and selling them to yaks and other criminals. But I doubt the average train rider is ever going to see one. And the crooks could care less.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Only people in Japan that have guns are the outlaws.. the yakuza. In America crime has never been lower in over 40 yrs, concealled carry is legal in almost every state now... vs before.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

When twenty tiny children were slaughtered in their school December 14, 2012, along with six of their teachers, the US Congress did nothing.

In Japan gun crime is taken seriously. In the US? Not so much.

Thank you National Police Agency. Many police officers in the States wish their government representatives had the same integrity and sense of personal responsibility the Japanese Police endorse.

What's the difference?

The NRA own the Congress of America apparently and the Japanese are still sticking with personal responsibility and respect. Gods bless the tiny children, their parents and all those affected in the slaughter by guns the States are powerless to stop.

When Americans understand what respect really means they will forget their hatred expressed in gun crime. That day cannot come soon enough. Love you Japan. Just say no to guns.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Strangerland: If I lived in a country with legalized firearms, I could get shot at any given time - at the mall, at work, walking down the road.

LOL. Turn of the TV, friend - it's bad for your mental health. May want to switch to decaf, as well.

Strangerland: The point being that there is nothing unfair whatsoever about my comment. If there are no guns, people cannot get shot. Therefore letting the population arm itself is insane, and therefore my comment about preferring to live in sane countries.

The unfair point is labeling an entire country as insane because you disagree with one of its values, but let's move beyond that.

Here's the real issue: It's undeniable that terrible tragedies have occurred due to gun violence and gun accidents, and it's important that we (as a world) try to reduce and eliminate both. But the gun debate isn't about whether guns are good or bad. The debate is just how involved do we want the government in determining what we can and can't do. It's a freedom debate. Meanwhile, between sport and hunting, there ARE very useful, practical, positive, non-controversial uses of firearms, which can be taught to be used safely. I think guns SHOULD be legal. Let the people do what they want, and that includes things that may harm themselves or others. I'm all for allowing people to make their own decisions about these things. Keep the government away from my personal property, let me live my life normally, and don't cherry-pick one "dangerous" thing when there are many other "dangerous things" out there - with higher fatality rates and zero upside.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

"The debate is just how involved do we want the government in determining what we can and can't do. It's a freedom debate." - The Original Wing

This type of thinking must ignore an important point. In a democracy, Government is Of, By and For the People.

When 80% of Americans demand appropriate gun regulation after the slaughter at Sandy Hook School, Newtown, Connecticut, and the US Congress does nothing, who is in control? The People? Or the Billions behind the NRA, Gun Manufacturers?

Japan has it right. It's not some concept they call a freedom, the Japanese don't equate the deadly force guns present as freedom, but a force that can threaten and harm, at random and many other Democracies see the same wisdom, just ask an Australian.

The American NRA would have their membership believe Government is some foreign entity, somehow unwelcome, unwanted and dangerous. That's a very disturbing idea to take into the discussion of gun safety and gun regulation. Some in that group have stated they would go out and kill at random those who disagree with them, search: Yeager, Tennessee, 'I gonna get my gun and start killing'.

"Let the people do what they want, and that includes things that may harm themselves or others. I'm all for allowing people to make their own decisions about these things." - The Original Wing

The reader may recognize this justification reasoning as another sponsored rationale. What it in fact states is a desire to live without law. People should do as they wish and no thought should be given to the consequences, because freedom is doing what one wishes without regulation or responsibility. Japan sees this differently, as do many other Democracies.

The reader should understand. Gun safety in Japan is taken very seriously and for very good reason. They see the slaughter lose in the American NRA argument as a reckless and wonton disregard for human life. Americans have a real problem before them. Japan should remain staunchly anti-gun and just ask an Australian, they understand why.

Only in America does the will of 80%, who see the need for gun control, can be ignored by their Congress. That's no endorsement of Democracy or common sense.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Readers, please stay on topic. Comparisons with the U.S. are not relevant to this discussion.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The unfair point is labeling an entire country as insane because you disagree with one of its values, but let's move beyond that.

Not at all. Letting the regular populace of any country arm itself is ridiculous. This isn't a value, it's common sense.

Chance of getting shot in Japan: for all intents and purposes, non-existent Chance of getting shot in a country which allows its populace to arm itself: The chance exists.

Why anyone would rather live in a place where they may get shot going about their day-to-day business is beyond me. If you are born there, that's your bad luck. But Japan does it right, and this article is a prime example. Even though there are almost no guns whatsoever, they are still running campaigns about guns. I like that. It keeps my odds of getting shot at zero.

The gun debate isn't about whether guns are good or bad. The debate is just how involved do we want the government in determining what we can and can't do. It's a freedom debate.

That's a funny idea of freedom.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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