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Enforcing the Law
In January 2008, then-Prime Minister Yasuo Fu<i></i>kuda of Japan's ruling conservative [[Liberal Democratic Party of Japan|LDP]], in response to an increase in violent crimes committed by minors and organised crime (''bouryokudan'' 暴力団), has called for rewriting the constitution to include even tighter firearms control measures.<ref>"LDP's platform to call for a new Constitution"; http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070524a3.html.</ref>
In January 2008, then-Prime Minister Yasuo Fu<i></i>kuda of Japan's ruling conservative [[Liberal Democratic Party of Japan|LDP]], in response to an increase in violent crimes committed by minors and organised crime (''bouryokudan'' 暴力団), has called for rewriting the constitution to include even tighter firearms control measures.<ref>"LDP's platform to call for a new Constitution"; http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20070524a3.html.</ref>
==Gun Control and Crime==
==Enforcing the Law==
In Legal terms, illegal gun possession, much like the possession of illegal drugs, is a "consensual offense", as there is no "victim" involved who would lodge a complaint with the police. Japanese police have wide-ranging search-and-seizure powers in order to find illegal weapons. The Firearms Act permits a policeman to stop and search anybody, if the officer feels that there is "sufficient suspicion that a person is carrying a fire-arm, a sword or a knife," or if he feels that somebody "is likely to endanger life or body of other persons judging reasonably from his abnormal behavior or any other surrounding circumstances."<ref>'Law Controlling Possession, Etc. of Fire-Arms and Swords' (1978), Law No 6, Art 24-2, EHS Law Bulletin Series, No 3920.</ref> If a weapon is found, the policeman may confiscate it and even if the confiscation is later found to be in error, the confiscated firearm is sometimes not returned.
Ironically, the law allowing for special weapons searches is almost redundant, as routine searches by the police are commonplace. They can stop anybody they deem to look suspicious and ask them to show th contents of their purse, case or bag. Technically, citizens are not obligated to show the policeman what is in their bag, but given the Japanese culture of deferring to authority, plus the fact that a refusal could result in the citizen being taken in for further questioning, few refuse. Even if a policeman's search does discover a gun or any other illegal substance and the search is subsequently ruled illegal, it makes no difference to the case, as Japanese courts permit the use of illegally seized evidence.<ref>Japan v Hashimoto, 32 Keishu 1672 (Supreme Court, 1st PB, 7 September 1978).</ref>