Only 16% View Japan as “Safe” From Gun Control

It has been 90 years since a Japanese prime minister was shot and killed due to politics. This statistic measures how uncommon and horrific gun violence is in the nation, where gun ownership is highly regulated.

Moreover, it serves as a reminder that gun violence may occur anywhere, and re-examining firearm laws requires reconsideration. It would be a tremendous error to presume that this type of assault will never happen. For this reason, Real Research launched a survey to explore public opinion on gun laws discussion following Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination.

Highlights:

• Only 16.4% believe gun control in Japan is still safe
• 47.9% feel that Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s security should have been strictly enforced
• Only 5% disagree with revising Japan’s existing gun control laws

How Safe Is Japan From Guns?

Gun violence is exceedingly rare and culturally unfathomable in Japan, where even handguns are prohibited. As a result, the idea of politically motivated killings in Japan comes off as a shock to the rest of the world despite history saying otherwise. Accordingly, the survey on gun laws discussion following Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination begins by asking respondents about their current view of gun safety in Japan.

In response, 41.03% believe it is still highly safe, and another 16.4% believe it is also safe. However, while 16.97% remain neutral, others at 7.44% are somewhat concerned with gun safety in Japan. A further 5.25% are even highly concerned.

Japan has a lengthy history of political killings, with numerous serving and previous prime ministers targeted. Given that Shinzo Abe’s assassination is not Japan’s first case of politically motivated violence, the survey asks respondents how strict they believe Abe’s security should have been. In this case, 47.9% believe security should have been very stringent. While 27.92% believe his guard should have been strict, 13.45% stay neutral, stating that no one could have predicted it.

Japan’s Gun Laws: Effective or Not

With strict gun control regulations, Japan has the lowest gun violence in the world, in contrast to the US. Furthermore, to carry out an assassination, the suspect will need personal knowledge of firearms, the ability to construct his weapon, and at least a year to prepare. In this instance, the poll asks respondents if they believe that these challenging conditions demonstrate Japan’s efficacy in gun control.

Here, a majority of 42.94% highly agree. A further 23.74% agree, while 8.64% somewhat agree. On the other hand, 5% disagree, while 13.94% remain neutral.

An All-Day Class About Guns

Moreover, Japan’s strict gun restrictions heighten the shock of Shinzo Abe’s killing. As a result, the survey reveals that 34.88% of respondents strongly support altering gun control laws in Japan. In addition, 26.01% agree with revisions, while 12.68% stay indifferent, arguing that no one could have predicted the crime. Despite that, there is a 5.27% opposing any adjustments.

Shotguns and air rifles are the only firearms licensed for sale in Japan, besides possession of guns is forbidden without a specific license. Not to mention, obtaining them is a lengthy and intricate procedure that takes much effort and patience.

The survey concludes by asking respondents which step from Japanese gun control they believe might be improved. Most respondents (35.78%) chose to update the ‘attend an all-day class’ step. Others (16.5%) seek to boost their chances of passing the written test.

A further 10.16% prefer a more difficult shooting-range test with a 95% accuracy rate, and a distinct 10.33% want a more in-depth mental health examination.