Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe shot; unresponsive in hospital

[Monahammer]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...man-in-custody

Apparently shot in the chest close range with a shotgun. Details are scant.

Pretty shocking, he was on the world stage for 20 years.

[CaptainCrunch]

Jesus Christ how in the hell does that happen. Do former leaders not get government protection?

[Johnny Makarov]

How do you even get a gun in Japan?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

How do you even get a gun in Japan?

Well you see....there is a system of economics in which a valuable asset, which in this case we'll call 'money' which is backed by the state, can be exchanged for goods or services.

You simply find the good or service that you require and if you have sufficient 'magic government paper' you can exchange it for that which you desire.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

How do you even get a gun in Japan?

From the photos it was two pipes taped to some 2/4 basically a directed pipe bomb, probably used blackpowder from fireworks, the real question is how he got close enough to use it

[wwkayaker]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

How do you even get a gun in Japan?

I saw a picture with the gun and the comment said it appeared to be homemade. The object definitely didn’t look like a gun from Cabelas.

[Slava]

Wow, that’s someone who really wanted him dead.

Hopefully just a Japanese guy, and no Chinese or Russian involvement. Otherwise things get messy.

[sharkov]

Originally Posted by Slava

Wow, that’s someone who really wanted him dead.

Hopefully just a Japanese guy, and no Chinese or Russian involvement. Otherwise things get messy.

If so, then it’s franz ferdinand once again

[Wormius]

The shooter being apprehended with their home-made gun on the ground.

https://www.asahi.com/sp/articles/ph...hoto_gallery_2

[oldschoolcalgary]

damn... that's really shocking for Japan.

I didn't know Abe's politics, but he was in public life for a long time...shooter looked young from the pictures though...

edit: sounds like the shooter was in his 40s... I guess Abe was promoting Japan taking a bit more proactive approach to the defense of Taiwan and also was looking at modifying the Constitution away from its more defense-only military into some less so (don't know exactly how far he was pushing this position however)

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by sharkov

If so, then it’s franz ferdinand once again

I can't see the same kind of scenario playing out for a former Prime Minister that played out for assassinating the heir to an empire. No one will go to war over this.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well you see....there is a system of economics in which a valuable asset, which in this case we'll call 'money' which is backed by the state, can be exchanged for goods or services.

You simply find the good or service that you require and if you have sufficient 'magic government paper' you can exchange it for that which you desire.

So no. You have to build your own.

[JohnnyB]

Why would China or Russia want to assassinate Shinzo Abe all of a sudden, and why would that be the first thing that comes to mind?

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by JohnnyB

Why would China or Russia want to assassinate Shinzo Abe all of a sudden, and why would that be the first thing that comes to mind?

....as he's been outspoken of late about pushing back against China & their claims re:Taiwan and other disputed territories

[surferguy]

Mob hit?

[afc wimbledon]

to be honest the crap nature of the weapon tends make one assume just some random wack job, Japan has no shortage of them, if it was mob or China it would be a way better gun and Shinzo would be dead

[getbak]

He has died.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1545342926489849857

[CETokyo]

Abe had some serious authoritarian views. He was a hard right-wing politician.
Those views and beliefs may not be related to his killing.
Here is a translated summary of some of the Constitutional changes Abe and the LDP are pushing.

https://kaikensouan.com/
Some highlights (English translation/summary):

• ⁠Preamble: The section about "not going to war" has been removed
• ⁠Article 9: The section about "not having a military force" is replaced with "Japan has a military force, with the Prime Minister as supreme commander." Conscription is now possible.
• ⁠Article 12: "The national interest" and "public order" are now prioritized above "fundamental human rights"
• ⁠Article 18: Restraint and torture are now constitutional if performed by "political" or "military" authority
• ⁠Article 19 (2): Improper acquisition or use of information on individuals is now prohibited by the constitution. This restricts freedom of the press regarding coverage of public officials or members of the government.
• ⁠Article 20: Religious groups can now be granted and execute political authority
• ⁠Article 21 (1): Freedom of Expression can be restricted if it is deemed necessary for "the public interest" or "public order"
• ⁠Article 21 (2): Public disclosure of information by the government is no longer guaranteed
• ⁠Article 24: Family members are now required by the constitution to "mutually support each other." This makes it possible for the government to reject welfare to people who have families.
• ⁠Article 47: A disparity in the value of votes between different constituencies (due to population differences between regions etc) is now constitutional.
• ⁠Article 66: Retired military personnel can now become Prime Minister or members of the cabinet.
• ⁠Article 77: Lawyers who oppose government authority can be disciplined/punished.
• ⁠Article 94: The sections about local government having authority over their own assets and right to governance are removed. This centralizes power in the national government.
• ⁠Article 96: Constitutional amendments now require a 1/2 majority instead of 2/3
• ⁠Article 97: Completely deleted. Fundamental human rights are no longer the supreme law of the land. "The public interest" and "public order" are now prioritized.
• ⁠Article 98: The Prime Minister can declare a state of emergency and his cabinet gains full authority to create laws without the National Diet. In this situation, everyone is now constitutionally required to follow the country's orders. This is essentially the same as how Hitler gained dictatorial powers in Nazi Germany.
• ⁠Article 99: The constitution is no longer a restraint on the power of the "state," but instead a restraint on the power of the "people"

Note: The outlined constitutional changes are uploaded to and still available on the LDP's official website, so you can confirm for yourself:

(1) Draft:#https://constitution.jimin.jp/document/draft/

(2) Q&A:#https://constitution.jimin.jp/document/faq/

Sent from my SM-N920W8 using Tapatalk

[activeStick]

Yup, he was a member of Nippon Kaigi in Japan, a right-wing extremist group that has never been ashamed to share their nationalist views publicly including the denial of Japan's rape of Nanking, China. He had his fair share of enemies for those same beliefs, which included the desire for Japan to have the chains removed from them militarily so they can rise back up to the power they once were.

On a related note, I love Japan and have been there 6 times. Amazing food, wonderful people and endless unique neighborhoods to explore. Just don't stay at any hotels affiliated with APA - it supports the denial and refrabication of Japan's cruel history to the rest of Asia and is backed by hardcore nationalists like Abe.

https://www.ft.com/content/d35ec458-...c-f253db7791c6

[JohnnyB]

The shooter is apparently a 41-year-old Japanese veteran.

Sorry to read that Abe has died.