On Friday at 11:30 am (local time in Nara), gunshots sent a wave of shock and sadness all throughout Nara, Japan as former long-serving Japanese leader Shinzo Abe was shot and killed at a campaigning event.
Shinzo Abe served as Japan’s Prime Minister from 2006-2007 and again in 2012-2020 before he officially stepped down, due to illness. Abe’s policy aimed to strengthen ties with the West and Indo-Pacific region, and also to foster relations with the United States, India and Australia, according to USA Today.
Of course, this attack on the former Prime Minister is a tragedy that needs no further reasoning. However, this was particularly frightening for the country because it is very rare that gun violence occurs throughout Japan. According to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions, and as mentioned by Forbes.com, there were only nine firearm deaths in Japan in 2018, as compared to the 39,740 firearm deaths that occurred within the United States in 2018.
Biden released a statement in accordance to the sudden death of Japan’s ex-Prime Minister– “This is a tragedy for Japan and for all who knew him,” while also stating “Even at the moment he was attacked, he was engaged in the work of democracy. While there are many details that we do not yet know, we know that violent attacks are never acceptable and that gun violence always leaves a deep scar on the communities that are affected by it.” Biden had met with Abe in both Tokyo and Japan throughout his vice presidency.
Day by day, a call for gun control is summoned throughout the world without any sight of cease. How many countries, schools, parades, children, parents, lives will have to suffer until effective legislation is implemented?
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group blog. If you are located in Arizona and are seeking legal services, CIMA Law Group specializes in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
CIMA Law Group Blog 