Photo/Illutration A crossbow (Provided by the National Police Agency)

A National Police Agency panel is taking aim at crossbows following a deadly attack using the weapon, including recommending licensing of owners. 

The panel in a report released on Dec. 17 called for crossbows to be regulated in Japan and added to the swords and firearms control law.

The panel was set up in September after two people were killed and two others injured in a crossbow attack in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, in June.

Japan has experienced a number of other crossbow-related crimes over the past decade.

Under the panel's proposed system, the prefectural public safety commission will license crossbows for limited purposes such as sport target shooting.

The NPA plans to introduce new regulations covering crossbows in the swords and firearms control law based on the report and submit a draft revision of the law to the ordinary Diet session next year.

The agency assumes that the regulations will be similar to those for air guns under the law for possession, usage and sales.

NPA tests confirmed that even the least powerful crossbows available on the Japanese market could cause injuries to people similar to those inflicted by air guns, according to the report.

Crossbows will be regulated if they meet the following three conditions: their strings can shoot arrows; they have an arrow retention spring; their power could endanger human life.

Their use will be restricted to activities deemed beneficial to society, which include administering an anesthetic to animals or using for academic studies, in addition to sport target shooting.

Crossbows will also be limited to locations deemed suitable for their use, such as large, open areas.

People under 18 or who have alcohol or drug problems will be denied crossbow licenses.

Those who have served time in prison will have to wait until five years after completing their sentence before they can be eligible for a crossbow permit.

Applicants for licenses will also be asked to take lessons on crossbow safety. 

Current owners of crossbows will fall under the new regulations but will be given a grace period to comply with them.

Regarding the transfer or sales of crossbows, the NPA report stated that they should be treated under similar regulations that apply to air guns.

Before allowing someone to purchase a crossbow, sellers will be required to check that the buyer has a valid license to possess one.

The report also called for a system to verify the identities of purchasers buying crossbows online before allowing the items to be shipped.

The NPA handled 32 incidents with crossbows over 10 and a half years from January 2010 through June 2020, it said.

In 13 cases, the incidents involved murders, attempted murders, robberies resulting in injury or other crimes where victims sustained bodily harm.

Since the Takarazuka attack, Japan has logged other incidents tied to their use such as attempted murder. 

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