i m not saying that america can ever be like japan nor should it be like japan, but i want you to see this system because it has produced close to zero gun deaths annually in recent years. japan has some of the strictest gun laws in the world. the basic premise of those laws, if you want to own a gun good luck. japan s firearm and swords control law states no person shall possess a firearm before listing a few narrow exceptions for hunters and other categories. for the brave few willing to apply for one, they face an intricately designed bureaucratic obstacle course. just ask rick saka, a former u.s. marine living on mount fuji when we met him in 2013. he told us he was one of only a handful of foreigners in japan
the basic premise of those laws if you want to own a gun, good luck. japan s firearm and swords control law states, no person shall possess a firearm. before listing a few narrow exceptions for hunters and other categories. for the brave view still willing to apply for one, they face an intricately designed bureaucratic obstacle course. just ask rick saka, a former u.s. marine living on mt. fuji, he says he s one of only a handful of foreigners in japan to legally own a gun. back at his house, he showed us the binders full of paper work he s had to deal with over the years, they were a bit overwhelming even to explain. what all do you have to do? initially, want to help me?
saka took over 20 hours of lectures, a written test a shooting range class and he passed a criminal background check. a doctor gave him a full physical and psychological exam. he also visited the police station more than five times where he was interviewed in an interrogation room. are you having any problems with alcohol, are you having any problems with drugs, are you having any problems with relationships, family, work, money? the police also questioned saka s family e his co-workerers, friends, neighbors and he had to give them a detailed map of his home. you have to produce a map of where your firearm will be stored in your home, that s kind of unusual. and photos that actually detail all of the locks that we have to have in there and show that it s done legally. it took saka over a year to get approved and he must renew his various licenses regularly.
0 for coming by. and thanks for watching state of the union. fareed zakaria gps starts right now. this is gps, the global public square. welcome to all of you in the united states and around the world. i m fareed zakaria coming to you live from new york. starting with nelson mandela and we will ask you what happened to his legacy in africa and beyond. i have a great panel including one of mandela s close confid t confidants and the man that until this summer was obama s top national security why he says the u.s. doesn t need to cut a deal with hamid karzai of afghanistan. next, how to understand the booming american economy. i ll ask the man who presided over great growth and some critics charge also helped create many bubbles. former fed chair, alan greenspan. and as we approach the first anniversary of the new town massacre, what can the u.s. learn from other nations about gun policy. i ll take you to japan for a fascinating look at a nation that loves violent video games but