A man in Hokkaido is appealing the revocation of his gun permit for brown bear hunting, arguing the decision is illegal and undermines hunting activities.
In Hokkaido, a male hunter is contesting the cancellation of his gun permit for brown bear hunting in a case that highlights the conflicting interests of wildlife management and public safety. The man, Haruo Ikegami, claims that the decision by the Hokkaido Public Safety Commission is unlawful, arguing that hunters contribute positively to society by managing wildlife in the absence of effective police intervention. His appeal comes after a 2018 incident where he shot a brown bear, which he asserts was in line with his duties as a licensed hunter.
The background of the case reveals a contentious disagreement over safety measures and hunting privileges. While Ikegami argues that the firing of his weapon posed no direct threat to nearby buildings, the authorities contend that the presence of municipal staff and police nearby significantly raised the risk of endangerment to human lives. Initially, a district court sided with Ikegami, suggesting the authorities had overstepped their jurisdiction; however, a subsequent appeal court reversed this decision, arguing potential risks due to bullet trajectories, which has led to the current Supreme Court hearings.
Ikegami expressed concerns during a press briefing following the recent court session, emphasizing that issues surrounding his case extend beyond his personal situation to affect the entire hunting community. His attorney has called for the Supreme Court to provide clear guidelines that would allow hunters to operate without fear of legal repercussions, stressing the need for balancing safety with the rights of licensed hunters to engage in their activities responsibly.
