Only 30% of stores ID people buying lethal knives

Thursday 21st August, 05:35 PM JST

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Latest 15 of 16 Total Comments Show All

ambrosia at 07:18 PM JST - 21st August

Isn't any knife potentially lethal if you stab someone hard enough and enough times?
serindipity at 08:06 PM JST - 21st August

It's odd that, they banned the sale of knives to under 18's after the Akihabara attack. Why? He was in his 30's, wasn't he? It's also odd that they are actually bothering to check ID before the sale. What is the point of that? Do they record the sales? Do they run a police check? Or, do they only care about making a sale? This is so unbelievable! Any nut that wants to take out people with a knife will go to the hundred yen shop and buy a nice sharp kitchen knife. A serious attempt at limiting the supply of these unnecessary knives would be to not let them in the country, would it not? Or, introducing a cooling off period before purchase as they do in the states with guns. However, in the end, nature will find a way and these nuts will always get their tools of choice.
TheNewZen at 08:17 PM JST - 21st August

More details: http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080821p2a00m0na004000c.html
LIBERTAS at 08:48 PM JST - 21st August

Lethal knives aside, you don't need ID (driver's license) to buy a CAR in Japan (only to prove you have a parking space.) And how many people are mowed down by cars? In the thousands per year, right? Lotsa gaps here.
lipscombe at 09:11 PM JST - 21st August

must be the magic % since we heard that only 30% of child pornography sites uncovered by the government have been shut down. maybe I should only pay 30% of my taxes
KitsuneYoukai at 11:04 PM JST - 21st August

"Lethal Knives??" Apparently nto all knives are lethal accoridng to this article. Geez, in the hands of a maniac all knives can be lethal. As for the article, it is people who are lethal, if someone with intent wants to commit a crime no one can stop them from getting a knife, gun, etc...to do it.
OssanULTRA at 11:44 PM JST - 21st August

That this article fails to mention whether there is any law in place wich requires the seller of such weapons to record the buyer's name and address makes it totally meaningless.
Youdontknow at 01:42 AM JST - 22nd August

Stores are not required to ID people who buy knives...otherwise 20million Japanese housewives a day would be in trouble!
TheNewZen at 01:49 AM JST - 22nd August

Actually you are wrong.

The ID-check is required for "non-daily use/essential" knifes. Too tired to link to a more detailed news article about it that goes into the details and also mentions which types of stores don't check ID's and which do.
seimei at 02:52 PM JST - 22nd August

TheNewZen, good point, I can buy a tuna stave (5 feet long) without ID.
dennis0bauer at 03:30 PM JST - 22nd August

you can kill someone with a ballpoint or with hashi like beat takahashi did in one of his movies (ok it is not real but you get the idea)
TJrandom at 03:47 PM JST - 22nd August

TheNew Zen

The ID-check is required for "non-daily use/essential" knifes.

How frequently do you plan to use it? Daily

Is it essential to your profession? Yes

What is your profession? Killer

OK then, no ID required.
TheNewZen at 03:56 PM JST - 22nd August

TJrandom.

Not my words but the NPA's. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080821p2a00m0na004000c.html
TJrandom at 04:05 PM JST - 22nd August

TheNewZen - Thanks, By the way - I was being sarcastic, not claiming foul.
WilliB at 02:05 AM JST - 23rd August

" TheNewZen, good point, I can buy a tuna stave (5 feet long) without ID. "

Woha, shades of Crocodile Dundee. You call that a knife? This is a knife.