"'Random' Electric Shock, Steel Balls Breaking Glass Windows... 'Lethal Tools Not Used in Daily Life Must Be Regulated'"

Increasing Cases of Misuse in Actual Crimes
Easy Purchase Without Separate Procedures
Over 100 Cases of Illegal Weapon Possession and Sales Annually
Sharp Rise in Sanctions on Homemade Gun and Slingshot Production Videos

Recently, there have been concerns that tools with lethal potential such as electric shock devices, knuckles, steel balls, slingshots, and compound bows are being used in crimes but remain in a regulatory blind spot. These products are easily purchasable online and can be used for criminal purposes at any time, yet they are not classified as 'weapons' under current law. Experts say there is a need to strengthen regulations on items that are not commonly used in daily life but possess lethality.

On the 21st, a search on an internet portal site for electric shock devices, knuckles, steel balls, and compound bows yielded a variety of products. Electric shock devices were priced in the 100,000 KRW range, hunting compound bows around 200,000 KRW, and slingshots were cheaper, listed between 30,000 and 50,000 KRW. They were available for immediate purchase without any special procedures, often labeled as 'for hunting' or 'for self-defense.'

These tools can turn into weapons at any time. On the 4th, in Yangsan, Gyeongnam, a man in his 40s was arrested by police after stabbing an unknown woman at a bus stop with an electric shock device and fleeing. The investigation revealed he committed the crime simply because he wanted to try using the electric shock device. In the recent 'Sillim-dong sexual assault and murder case,' Choi Yoon-jong (30) brutally assaulted a woman with a fist wearing metal knuckles and strangled her to death. On the 12th, a man in his 20s was caught by police after modifying a toy gun to shoot steel balls and breaking windows on five floors of a building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. A man in his 30s who was upset by construction noise at a villa in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, shot 80 steel balls with a slingshot, breaking eight windows, and was sentenced to 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation on the 13th. In January 2021, a man in his 40s in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, shot an acquaintance in his 70s with a compound bow out of grudge, injuring him.

Under the current 'Act on the Safety Control of Guns, Swords, and Explosives (Gunpowder Act),' weapons regulated include firearms that can shoot metal bullets or gas, swords with blades longer than 15 cm, explosives with high explosive power, dispersers that can spray tear gas, electric shock devices, and crossbows. These weapons require possession permits from the relevant police station. However, electric shock devices only need to be reported if they exceed 30,000 volts. Knuckles, steel balls, slingshots, and compound bows are not included in the regulatory scope. A police official stated, “It is practically difficult to operate a permit system for all weapons,” and added, “We are responding by strengthening penalties for carrying weapons in public places.”

In the 21st National Assembly, nine amendment bills to the Gunpowder Act have been proposed, but all are pending in the Administrative Safety Committee. Most of these bills relate to possession and permit qualifications. Kim Yong-pan, a member of the People Power Party, proposed introducing a permit renewal system that would regularly and practically check the mental health status of holders of swords, dispersers, and electric shock devices. Song Eon-seok, also from the People Power Party, proposed a bill that prohibits individuals who have committed specific violent crimes or child sexual offenses from possessing firearms for 10 years after completing their sentences. Currently, the only tool proposed for regulation under the Gunpowder Act is the compound bow. Yang Kyung-sook of the Democratic Party proposed an amendment in April 2021 to include compound bows in the regulatory scope, but after being referred to the Administrative Safety Committee subcommittee, there has been little progress in discussion.

Meanwhile, over 100 people are caught each year possessing or selling illegal weapons. According to data submitted by the National Police Agency to Rep. Jeon Bong-min of the People Power Party, the number of people caught for possession or sale of illegal weapons was 127 in 2018, 204 in 2019, 233 in 2020, 129 in 2021, and 158 in 2022. From January to July this year, 29 people were caught. Additionally, the number of cases where methods for making homemade weapons were introduced online, leading to corrective demands by the Korea Communications Standards Commission, increased significantly from 440 cases in 2018 to 5,610 cases in 2022. During this period, there were 31 incidents caused by illegal weapons such as firearms without possession permits, resulting in 10 injuries and 4 deaths.

With ongoing incidents involving illegal weapons and some tools remaining in regulatory blind spots, experts emphasize the need to strengthen the current Gunpowder Act. The criteria experts suggest are the frequency of use in daily life and lethality of the tool. Generally, items like slingshots, steel balls, and compound bows are sold as 'hunting tools' in the market. They are rarely used in everyday life but can cause fatal injuries when used. Such tools, which are not commonly used in daily life but possess lethality, should be included as regulated items under the Gunpowder Act to prevent easy purchase. Lee Yun-ho, a distinguished professor in the Department of Police Science at Korea Cyber University, said, “Items like knuckles and steel balls should be considered offensive rather than for self-defense,” and added, “Items that are not routinely necessary but have lethality should not be freely purchasable.” Kim Do-woo, a professor in the Department of Police Science at Gyeongnam University, said, “Steel ball guns and slingshots should be classified as quasi-firearms, but there is no system in place. Buyers claim they use them safely, but many modification methods are posted online, and given the potential for criminal misuse, thorough management is necessary.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.