Japanese urban area hunting rifle ban to be adjusted after bear attacks increase
Japan's Environment Ministry plans to relax rules on using hunting rifles in response to a rise in bear attacks. Concerns about safety and managing conflicts prompt a call for caution and a revised framework.
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In response to a surge in bear attacks, Japan's Environment Ministry plans to ease restrictions on using hunting rifles in urban areas. The ministry aims to revise the law to address the record number of bear attacks, with 34 people injured and two killed in the current fiscal year. The current law prohibits hunting rifles in urban areas except in specific situations, leading to delays and legal uncertainties for hunters. A panel of experts proposed allowing the use of hunting rifles in cases of imminent danger and to kill bears captured in traps. However, concerns about safety, including ricocheting bullets and agitating bears, remain. The panel emphasized the need for caution, responsibility, and a revised framework for hunting bears. Governors from regions with high bear sightings have requested a review of the hunting rifle law to better manage the increasing bear-human conflicts.
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