From: harkcom@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp (Alton Harkcom)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan
Subject: Re: Japanese exchange student killed in Louisiana...
Date: 6 Nov 92 00:07:52 GMT
	<BwwIsD.2EC@newsflash.concordia.ca>
	<HARKCOM.92Nov4100950@spinach.pa.yokogawa.co.jp>
	<Bx6oH8.IFM@ncifcrf.gov>
Organization: Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Tokyo, Japan
In-reply-to: masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov's message of 4 Nov 92 08:48:43 GMT



In article <Bx6oH8.IFM@ncifcrf.gov> masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov
  (Michiaki Masuda) asks good questions:
(I hope I can answer them as well as they were asked...)

 =}The problem that I see is not
 =}only those who are recklessly looking forward to the next opportunity to 
 =}shoot a living target but also people who don't have a good command in 
 =}judging the situation correctly, shooting what they should shoot and not
 =}shooting what they shouldn't shoot.

   True, this is one of the greatest problems.  And as with cars, we need
some sort of regulation to require that proper training is attained before
an individual is allowed to own/operate a gun.

 =}aren't there already educational opportunities offered by NRA, local/federal
 =}government agencies or other private sectors? If that is the case, the 
 =}problem seems to me to be a lack of incentives for the gun owners to
 =}attend the class.

   Yes, there are many opportunities for such an education.  And yes,
many people do not avail themselves of such opportunities.

 =} It's my impression that unless a legal requirement for
 =}the education is established, it would be very difficult to motivate the
 =}average gun owners to spend time and money on the systematic lesson.
 =}No legal control, no education.

   I do not feel that regulation of the education will accomplish it
just as such regualtions for operating a motor vehicle in Japan have
not accomplished their goals.  "gun schools" would make a bundle to
spend on hiring crack pots to teach how to pass the examination to
get a license rather than teaching how to properly care for and operate
a gun.

   We need regulations similar to those governing a motor vehicle
license in the US.  A good examination policy of requiring that one has
at least learned the basics of operating a gun, maintainging a gun, and
unserstands all of the relevant laws pertaining to guns would be a good
start.  Then a penalty system could be developed for those who abuse
their license.

 =}   As I recall it, Fester-san mentioned that he had been using a gun
 =}since he was 6 years old. Therefore, it would be necessary to start
 =}the gun education before school age. Or would it be necessary to pass
 =}another law to limit the age of gun owners?

   I started driving as soon as I was able to see over the dashboard.
This was done on private property, not public roads.  Gun laws could be
similar.  The possesion of a gun could require a simple procedure for
registering the gun (already exists).  A license to operate a gun would
be required for operating a gun for anything other than practice on
private property.  This license of course could not have the (IMHO:
ignorant) age restriction that a motor vehicle operator's license does
as that would remove a lot of young hunters.  Of course a 'chauffer's
license' could be for carrying/operating a gun in public (already exists)
and this license could carry age restrictions...

   Hope that clears up my opinion on the banning/fanning issue...
Now back to the regularly scheduled Japan/America bashing...  NOT!

Al
Newsgroups: soc.culture.japan,talk.politics.guns,misc.legal