Why Heinous Crimes Happen in Japan and We Need More Robust Safety Net
Former PM Abe’s assassination revealed the threat of “the invincible”
The assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on July 8 shocked Japan. First and foremost, gun violence is almost nonexistent in this country — in all of 2021, Japan witnessed only one death from gun-related homicide.
The dysfunction of Abe’s security guards also upset the Japanese people. Secret Service and local police were at the scene, but the shooter fired two times and no one stopped him. Abe died from blood loss and the severe injuries caused by the shots.
The arrested man looked like an ordinary guy except for the homemade gun in his hands. Everything was unprecedented, and his normal look made the assassination's impact more serious. What drove him to this despicable act?
The Motive of the Shooter and “the Invincible”
According to Japanese media, the man arrested, Tetsuya Yamagami, is a 41-year-old resident of Nara City. He claimed he had grievances with the former PM.
He also confessed that his mother’s obsession with a religious organization and her large donation to it ruined their family life. (Though his academic history hasn’t been…
