It appears that the weapon with which former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated was homemade. Although the murderer belonged to a military force years ago, that did not guarantee him access to a rifle or a handgun. So he had to gather his ingenuity and make one for himself.
In his country, the possession of weapons is virtually impossible for the civilian population. It’s more. The few who can afford to have them go through a relentless preliminary process. They must attend theory classes and pass a written exam. Next they have to participate in target practice. Once these requirements are fulfilled, the candidate undergoes a psychic test that assures the weapons law enforcement authority that he does not suffer from any mental illness and, furthermore, that he is not addicted to drugs. Only then can he apply for a license that gives him access to… a shotgun with hunting ammunition. It’s all he can buy. No pistols or revolvers, much less high-caliber repeating rifles.
The police, medical certificate in hand, is the one that grants the license but after an exhaustive investigation of the candidate, his family and his environment. It reserves the right to deny the permit if it finds any reasonable cause that allows it to suspect that the applicant poses a danger to the lives of other people, property or public order.
Another detail: the owner must deliver to the police a plan of his home with the position of the gunsmith where he keeps the weapon. Ammunition must be locked in a safe. Until 1971, the possession of a small caliber rifle (the popular 22) was legal. But that year the government banned it. Those who still hold rifle licenses can continue to own them, but the heirs are required to turn them over to the police when the license holder dies.
Obsessive, too strict? The numbers sing. Between 2010 and 2020 there were only 44 gun murders in Japan, most of them linked to bōryokudan or violent groups. In 2020, there were 19,380 firearm deaths in the United States, or a rate of 53 homicides every 24 hours. It would take the Japanese 232 years to equal that macabre American record.
In Japan there seems to be the principle that “man is good, but if he is watched he is better”. Maybe they are right.
