Japan Press Weekly

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2014 June 11 - 17 [US FORCES]

Citizens protest against USF allowing children to handle guns at their event

A group of twelve citizens of Kanagawa Prefecture on June 10 filed a criminal charge against commanding officers of the U.S. Yokosuka Naval base who let children hold guns in violation of Japan’s gun control law with the Yokohama District Public Prosecutors Office.

The U.S. Yokosuka base (Kanagawa Pref.) on August 3 last year held a friendship day event where ordinary citizens, including children, were allowed to hold handguns and rifles.

The written accusation points out that the actions of the U.S. violated the gun control law which prohibits the loan of firearms. It demands that Japanese authorities exercise their jurisdiction rights to punish the officers for the illegal act.

The twelve citizens include Niikura Yasuo who heads a group protesting against the U.S. nuclear carrier homeported at Yokosuka, Usami Ippei who is the leader of a residents’ group calling for the abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, Sensui Yoshie of the New Japan Women’s Association, and Yamazaki Masanori who represents a group of victims of crimes by U.S. military personnel.

Past related article
> Yokosuka citizens protest against US forces’ public exposure to guns [August 29, 2013]