guns are not commonplace

While the body of Shinzo Abe is brought back to Tokyo (Japan), the Japanese are still in shock after this act of rare violence in the country. The former prime minister was shot dead, Friday, July 8. The alleged perpetrator, a 41-year-old unemployed ex-soldier, allegedly made the murder weapon himself. Getting a gun is an obstacle course in Japan. This includes a written exam, obtaining a medical certificate with psychological evaluation, shooting training and passing interviews with the police.

Other than hunters, sportsmen, law enforcement, or the military, the Japanese have no gun culture, let alone gun violence. “It’s even incredible that someone walks around with a weapon”, says a resident. In Japan, there are 0.25 firearms per 100 inhabitants, compared to 20 weapons in France. In the United States, it is even more than the number of inhabitants: 120 firearms for every 100 Americans.