Ex-gangster fatally shot in karaoke bar in Tokyo's Kabukicho district

Just look at shows to determine what would happen if you give japanese guns, gundams, etc. ;)=

Oh, yes! It's obviously working well in the US. (roll eyes) In the last 50 years since 1968 when they started to keep records, more people have been killed in domestic gun violence then were killed in all of the wars the US participated in over the last century.

@Disillusioned - That is not unique to firearms in the USA, Alcohol for example kills an estimated 80-90k per year. In one decade Alcohol will kill more people than all the Americans killed in wars since the founding of the country.

Heck accidental falls kill around 33k people each year in the USA, more people have died in the past 50 years from accidental falls in the USA than Americans have been killed in war since the country was founded.

Over 47k+ die each year from unintentional/accidental poisoning in the USA.

Cars have killed more people in the USA since 1968 than all the Americans killed in all of the wars since the founding of the country.

STDs routinely kill 30k+ in the USA each year, in fact HIV will kill more people in the USA than all homicides by all weapon types in the USA.

The USA is a nation of 2-3 million deaths annually each year when you tally up all individual causes of death. Firearms at most make up 1.5% of all deaths in the USA each year.

At present, there are around 35,000 people killed every year in the US through gun violence, 60% of which are suicides, 10% accidental (mostly children) and the other 30% are gun related crime. I think Japan would change drastically for the worse if gun ownership restrictions were lifted.

I disagree that Japan would change drastically worse if gun ownership restrictions were lifted. There is a reason that violent crimes using weapon types that are just as accessible in Japan as they are in the USA are at lower levels: Knives, Fists and Feat, Poisons, Arson, etc.

If it was honestly primarily due to gun control laws then why do we not see all other weapon types per capita rates not at similar levels if not greater than the the USA? I mean the per capita homicide rate using the weapon type Hands/Feet is basically the same if not higher in the USA than the entire homicide rate of Japan when all weapon types are combined.

Personally, I see no reason why anybody needs to own a gun.

So what? Unless you are claiming that wants should be prohibited and the only things people should be allowed to own or experience in life are needs then there really is no point to the statement of "****I see no reason why anybody needs to own XYZ"

If only gangsters carried firearms, that would mean far fewer firearms deaths.

Which is true in Japan, where guns are few and far between.

In America, guns are already widespread. If you took them away from the law abiding owners, one of the major deterrents to using guns in crimes would be removed. Meaning, the chance that there is a gun behind the door you are about to break down or under the coat of the person you are about to rob is now nil. In America, the sheer number of guns is a deterrent to a good number of criminals.

Ex-Gangster or not it's the life he chose so I guess he paid for his Sins with his life. No tears shed.

I'm also thinking that he didn't buy the gun at a department store. The fact that they found a casing at the scene suggests that it was an automatic, which the Jaanese police do not carry. So basically stringent gun legislation didn't stop him.

I guess as far as gangsters go there is no such thing as as an. "ex-gangster".

The laws regarding guns are so strict here because of repeating policies of collection and registration going back 400 years, amid a constant real fear in the government of guns getting out of control. Ordinary people here are much the same as elsewhere in the world, but there is genuine fear of being caught breaking the sword and gun laws, as the crackdown and investigation will inevitably be harsh.

The Yak will knowingly make a calculated decision on which gun to use and which bullets, (both unused since their smuggled importation), and will attempt to dispose of both afterwards.

Because it would be so much better if only gangsters carried guns. I like your logic.

If only gangsters carried firearms, that would mean far fewer firearms deaths.

The rare instance of firearm violence in a country with extremely strict firearms control laws. You don't suppose the lack of easy access to firearms has anything to do with the rarity of firearm violence, do you?

Now, is there any other developed country where firearm violence is out of control and would benefit from far stricter firearms control laws?

Because it would be so much better if only gangsters carried guns. I like your logic.

@disillusioned

it does not matter whether the chicken or egg came first at this point. The egg hatched and you can’t put the chicken back in it. Guns exist in America. Bad guys and good guys both have them. Outlaw them and you only take them away from one of those groups. Which one do you think that is?

It’s really sad that some of you folks are so scared of guns that you actually believe that the mere act of being allowed to hold one will turn even the most mild mannered person into a cold blooded killer, completely disregarding drastic cultural differences that would clearly not allow that to happen.

I even admit that America has a cultural problem with violence and disrespect of others, that Japan does not have, that is a factor in our gun violence situation. But I know that, for you same people, accepting that fact would be admitting that the actual gun itself isn’t as scary as you want everyone to believe and you lose the main drive behind your ‘guns need to be taken away from everyone’ narrative.

Japan would not change if the gun laws here were more relaxed. America is very different from many other countries. There are many Countries that have very relaxed gun laws, some even more than America. However, it is the culture that heavily dictates how guns are used more so than the laws. Switzerland is known as the country with the easiest gun laws; however, they have virtually no gun crime.

People in Japan tend not to be confrontational and prefer to keep their feelings and thoughts to themselves. The reason why you do not see many fights or drunken street brawls is part of the reason why you will not see much gun violence if the laws became more relaxed.

Seems like a professional hit, however that bullet casing will be tracked. Some stinky businesses was going on here. To do with money of course.

Actually I don't think much would change in Japan if firearms were allowed

Oh, yes! It's obviously working well in the US. (roll eyes) In the last 50 years since 1968 when they started to keep records, more people have been killed in domestic gun violence then were killed in all of the wars the US participated in over the last century. At present, there are around 35,000 people killed every year in the US through gun violence, 60% of which are suicides, 10% accidental (mostly children) and the other 30% are gun related crime. I think Japan would change drastically for the worse if gun ownership restrictions were lifted. Personally, I see no reason why anybody needs to own a gun. Yeah, I've heard the daft argument of, "I need a gun to protect myself from other people with guns." What a completely ridiculous statement! It makes as much sense as, "Which came first? The chicken or the egg?"

nishikat, what is your definition of shootings ? Japanese men do shootings a lot.

Read Mr. Noidall's comment.

OK

Japan is safe because of it's...

....requirement that the police know exactly who has what gun and their psychiatric charts. The government just doesn't let you have a hunting gun here because they think everyone is nice.

nutters gone mad

Yes

You make it seem as if Japan allowed everyone to have a gun tomorrow the whole place would be drowned in blood

But if you go to popular places they would start having metal detectors and bag searches. More expensive security detail since Japan has nutters too.

You make it seem as if Japan allowed everyone to have a gun tomorrow the whole place would be drowned in blood.

What's so funny about the NRA cult is they don't allow guns at their conventions. Yes, a bunch of gun nutters in a single place (with guns) and what could go wrong??

Kabukicho is anyway pretty grim these days.  Sounds like a couple of Yaks had a falling out.

Guns come in on those boats from NK or China.

Don't forget Japan has a very strict registration system for guns here. I don't think the Japanese government is relying on the idea of "respect for life and their fellow human beings" to keep guns safe here. Also the police require your medical data.

Read Mr. Noidall's comment.

Don't forget Japan has a very strict registration system for guns here. I don't think the Japanese government is relying on the idea of "respect for life and their fellow human beings" to keep guns safe here. Also the police require your medical data.

To what extent? Any firearm including what the military can have? Fully automatic weapons?

No, I do not think Japanese people would start shooting each other simply because they were allowed to own ANY firearm, regardless of type. People don't become murderers simply by picking up a gun. As a society, I think the average Japanese citizen has more respect for life and their fellow human beings.

 I don't think Japan, as a society in its current state, would break down simply because firearms were introduced.

To what extent? Any firearm including what the military can have? Fully automatic weapons?

Rival Japanese gangs obtain firearms outside Japan on a routine basis and once used there disposed of so no trace can be identified especially with any homicide committed with them.

Including military grade machine guns (made after the year 1985)

Here we go again. Sure, why not. Including "military grade machine guns (made after the year 1985)". I don't think Japan, as a society in its current state, would break down simply because firearms were introduced.

But I see you're knowledge of US gun laws is still lacking.

Actually I don't think much would change in Japan if firearms were allowed

Including military grade machine guns (made after the year 1985)

If this was, indeed, a crime involving two members of organized crime, it will be interesting to see what transpires in the coming days / weeks.

If this was a hit by one gumi on another gumi or a rival faction, then one has to assume there will be the predictable reaction.

If this was some sort of hit by one member on another member within a gumi / faction, then it will be interesting to see if it was sanctioned or not. If not, again, there may well be another casualty in the near future.

If it was just some random kenka between two members of the same gumi / faction over some personal matter, then one can imagine that the oyabun will be forcing the suspect to turn himself into police.

I always find these things interesting. Wonder what Jake Adelstein thinks of this one.

Gun violence is extremely rare in Japan, simply because there are few guns within the society. Most gun violence is police suicides. However, this is not to say Japan is 100% safe. With one or two family murders every day it would seem the most dangerous in Japan is at home.

If there is going to be gang related violence, it's going to be in Kabukicho. Nearly the whole place is run by the Yaks. Many years ago I managed a bar near Kabukicho in Shinjuku 2-chome and had the Yaks come in demanding protection money. I just laughed at them and told them to p-off. They never came back.

Gun deaths are few and far between in this country fortunately. Why are people bickering about this, it's a simple fact.

The rare instance of firearm violence in a country with extremely strict firearms control laws. You don't suppose the lack of easy access to firearms has anything to do with the rarity of firearm violence, do you?

Now, is there any other developed country where firearm violence is out of control and would benefit from far stricter firearms control laws?

Actually I don't think much would change in Japan if firearms were allowed. It's the society and people as much as it is the laws.

All major crime in Japan is conducted by organised crime. The government and police allow it to happen.

Sounds like someone was pissed off about something!

are within the next few days, IF the pressure from the cops gets intense enough, will walk into a Koban and turn themselves in for the crime. That is if it was a Yakuza. If it was a chinpira, forget it!

The rare instance of firearm violence in a country with extremely strict firearms control laws. You don't suppose the lack of easy access to firearms has anything to do with the rarity of firearm violence, do you?

Now, is there any other developed country where firearm violence is out of control and would benefit from far stricter firearms control laws?