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So the suspect was arrested for possessing a coilgun, but it was only made illegal this June with the law taking effect in March next year? The timeline doesn't

So the suspect was arrested for possessing a coilgun, but it was only made illegal this June with the law taking effect in March next year? The timeline doesn't make any sense. Other news sources aren't helpful as they contain even less information. Above all, how this was legal in Japan until very recently is beyond me. I thought Japan has strict gun controls in place. Edit: Apparently coilguns are categorized as firearms, which is illegal today, if they're lethal enough. https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/1563487?display=1 https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/1563487?display=1

wongarsu 2y ago
So this is mostly a funny thing for the news cycle and a major inconvenience for the suspect, and he will be released once they realize this thing isn't actually lethal? A "good" way for authorities to show how they are on top of this and that you shouldn't share videos on coil guns on the internet. Seems a bit authoritarian.
- soraminazuki 2y ago
  No, he was arrested because it was deemed to be lethal.
  - wongarsu 2y ago
    There is no way this thing is actually lethal in any reasonable definition of "lethal firearm". Maybe if you bludgeon someone with it.
    - nicce 2y ago
      If you shoot with this thing from, let's say from 5 meters to the head, is there a decent risk of dying? If yes, it most definitely is lethal.
      - textadventure 2y ago
        As much risk as throwing a rock from that distance, most likely. So no, probably not lethal.
        deleted 2y ago
        [deleted]
        nicce 2y ago
        I have personally got a small rock to the head and almost died. It is about the accuracy and how fast can the other person react or protect themselves. I would say that guns like these exceed the throwing of rock with high numbers. You can also do it many times in a short duration. Fireguns are effective for that particular reason. They are accurate, and there is no way to protect against, as they are very fast to use. And you are not limited to single throw.
        Retric 2y ago
        He was over estimated the threat (Ed: or suggesting throwing it is more dangerous than firing it), the issue is capacitors suck. A 95 MPH fastball which can seriously hurt has about 150J worth of energy. Meanwhile a professionally made coil gun using a lot more capacitors hit 10J and this isn’t nearly as powerful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GR-1_%22Anvil%22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GR-1_%22Anvil%22
      - ljsprague 2y ago
        Are slingshots illegal in Japan?

wongarsu 2y ago

So this is mostly a funny thing for the news cycle and a major inconvenience for the suspect, and he will be released once they realize this thing isn't actually lethal? A "good" way for authorities to show how they are on top of this and that you shouldn't share videos on coil guns on the internet. Seems a bit authoritarian.

soraminazuki 2y ago
No, he was arrested because it was deemed to be lethal.
- wongarsu 2y ago
  There is no way this thing is actually lethal in any reasonable definition of "lethal firearm". Maybe if you bludgeon someone with it.
  - nicce 2y ago
    If you shoot with this thing from, let's say from 5 meters to the head, is there a decent risk of dying? If yes, it most definitely is lethal.
    - textadventure 2y ago
      As much risk as throwing a rock from that distance, most likely. So no, probably not lethal.
      - deleted 2y ago
        [deleted]
      - nicce 2y ago
        I have personally got a small rock to the head and almost died. It is about the accuracy and how fast can the other person react or protect themselves. I would say that guns like these exceed the throwing of rock with high numbers. You can also do it many times in a short duration. Fireguns are effective for that particular reason. They are accurate, and there is no way to protect against, as they are very fast to use. And you are not limited to single throw.
        Retric 2y ago
        He was over estimated the threat (Ed: or suggesting throwing it is more dangerous than firing it), the issue is capacitors suck. A 95 MPH fastball which can seriously hurt has about 150J worth of energy. Meanwhile a professionally made coil gun using a lot more capacitors hit 10J and this isn’t nearly as powerful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GR-1_%22Anvil%22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GR-1_%22Anvil%22
    - ljsprague 2y ago
      Are slingshots illegal in Japan?