Shinzo Abe, former Japanese leader, dies after being shot

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Washington Post

TOKYO -- Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, one of the country's most prominent political figures, has died after being shot at a campaign event Friday, public broadcaster NHK said, shocking a nation where firearms laws are among the world's strictest and gun violence is rare.

Abe, 67, was stumping for a fellow politician from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Friday morning when a gunman with an apparently homemade weapon fired two shots. Abe sustained injuries to his neck and chest, police sources told Japanese media, and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

The assassination of Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, sent shockwaves throughout the country ahead of elections for the upper house of parliament on Sunday.

Police arrested a suspect, a man from Nara in his 40s named Tetsuya Yamagami, and seized a gun. The weapon appeared to be homemade, police sources told local media. Yamagami was a member of the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces for three years, defense officials told Japanese media.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/07/07/japan-shinzo-abe-shot-nara-attack/

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Latest now breaking.

Saw the earlier thread about his hospitalization - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142940081

Pic of improvised weapon (from here - https://www.businessinsider.com/photo-gun-used-kill-japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-home-made-2022-7)



Not even a sophisticated "ghost gun".

[Frasier Balzov]

1. Look at the trouble this assassin had to go to in order to fashion a weapon.

Imagine the peace and safety our nation would enjoy if lazy Americans were faced with the same inconvenience.

[SunSeeker]

12. Indeed. Nobody would be able to mow down a parade with that gun.

Sadly, it was enough to kill one person.

[Arger68]

14. Unfortunately the NRA types will

use this to their advantage, saying "see, if criminals can't just buy a gun they'll make one!" like it's so easy. It's actually amazing that thing even worked.

[IronLionZion]

22. Make American mass shooters jump through inconvenient hoops

It shouldn't be easy

[Lil Liberal Laura]

2. "an apparently homemade weapon"

See, in Japan, you have to do it that way, because you can't get a gun at half the damn stores in the country!

[The Grand Illuminist]

4. You ought to see the fake guns.

Extremely realistic.

[blogslug]

8. This is not that

More like duct tape, pipes and spit.

[PoliticAverse]

3. There was a pretty good close-up photo of the gun. It appears to be a "pipe gun"...

an improvised weapon with 2 pieces of plumbing pipe used as dual-barrels allowing 2 shots to be fired.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_firearm

[YoshidaYui]

5. I am at a loss for words.

And knowing Japan like I do I am sure they will have a trial and the suspect will be executed.

[wyn borkins]

7. You Are Not Alone

We all are at a loss for words
As there are no words
Only quiet sadness
And despair

[betsuni]

15. It wasn't about politics, the news says, the guy said he had a personal grudge against Abe.

Insanity defense.

[oldsoftie]

18. As it should be. And by the end of the year.

No doubt of guilt.

[YoshidaYui]

26. MURDER -SUICIDE

he KNOWS he will be put to death, maybe he is looking forward to it... fucker

[betsuni]

30. What?

What suicide? He's nutty.

[YoshidaYui]

33. no you dun understand...

This guy wanted to die, which is whyhe put the gun down and allowed himself to be taken, he knows he will face the death penalty in Japan and so he hated ABE so much he was willing to die for it.

[betsuni]

34. No. That doesn't make any sense. He was taking revenge for what he imagined Abe did to his mother.

He won't get the death sentence if he's considered insane. What don't I understand? Huh? What are you talking about?

[YoshidaYui]

35. sumimasen

それは私には非常に明白に思えました。

[betsuni]

37. I'm American, no need to use Japanese.

[YoshidaYui]

38. I guess that makes me a

Foreigner?

[betsuni]

39. What are you talking about? I live in Japan but am not Japanese, no need to

use Japanese. I'm the foreigner, not a citizen. Why do you think I need comments in Japanese?

[Raine]

6. R-I-P 🕯️nt

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Photos from the scene:

Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe was rushed to the hospital after he was shot while giving a speech in Nara on July 8, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/KYODO



Security officers tackling a man suspected of shooting former Japan PM Shinzo Abe in Nara, Japan, on July 8, 2022. Photo: ASAHI SHIMBUN/GETTY IMAGES

[SunSeeker]

10. Horrible.

[calimary]

11. Just as it was feared.

No words. Except maybe sadness and dismay.

[Novara]

13. The killer looks young in that photo

Murder seems to be a young male pathology.

[BumRushDaShow]

16. There were several reports that he was in his early 40s

so not that young, but also not the "typical" age that you see carrying out this sort of thing.

[betsuni]

17. 41 years old.

He's just nutty, said he wanted to kill Abe because of a personal grudge of some kind.

[LoisB]

19. Very sad. Condolences to his family, friends, and country.

[Marthe48]

20. R.I.P. Mr Abe

This is a damned shame

[malthaussen]

21. Nice to see the old traditions being preserved.

Prior to WW2, assassinating prime ministers was a frequent occurrence in Japan.

-- Mal

[sinkingfeeling]

23. What a shame. Abe seemed Iike a decent man. Remember

how he looked at TFG? Condolences to the people of Japan and his family.

[CaptainTruth]

24. So sad...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

25. How sad

[LeftishBrit]

27. Awful

[electric_blue68]

28. Condolences to Japan, and Japanese-Americans

[MustLoveBeagles]

29. My condolances to his family, friends and the people of Japan

When I first heard the description of his injuries on the news last night I got a bad feeling about how this would end. I wish I'd been wrong.

RIP

[Marthe48]

31. Mr. Abe was the last leader I thought would be assassinated

The good always die young.

[Mysterian]

32. A total failure by Mr. Abe's security

Sad to see a kook with a bag get so close to him.

[betsuni]

36. Religious group the shooter blames for his mother's bankruptcy is the Unification Church, Moonies.

Right-wing LDP landslide in yesterdays election. PM Kishida vows constitution reform, Make Japan Great Again with military expansion to continue Abe's legacy. Still wonder who the hell these old guys think are going to join the military and live in the 19th century.