I can assert you that all Japanese Police Officers are armed when they patrol the streets and are not at the station.

They usually carry the Nambu M60 a 3 inch J Frame copy 5 shot 38 special. Or the newer M37 Smith and Wesson snub nose, with one speed loader as a back up.

Only Detectives or higher carry the Sig 230.

From what I read usually VIP Protection agents carry The HK P2000 but don't know if Abe's Security were those guys.

What will happen to the bodyguards?

quote:

Originally posted by dfens:

Only Detectives or higher carry the Sig 230.

P230? wow, those aren't even made any more. As far as I know, none since the late 90's.

And this is how publicly funded NPR covered the assassination of Shinzo Abe, by denigrating the man as a "divisive arch conservative." It's shameful that we still fund this propaganda.

Thank you for correcting my inaccurate assumption ina previous post. I am gratified, if a little surprised, that cops in Japan are allowed arms.

On another note, the left is already labeling this as murder with a "home made gun." Inevitably, they will call it a "ghost gun" and use this incident in an attempt to restrict our right to build a firearm rather than seeing the obvious fact that laws do not deter those willing to disregard them.

JULY 08, 2022

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

The longest serving Prime Minister in Japan’s history, Abe Shinzo was a proud servant of the Japanese people and a faithful friend to the United States. He worked with American Presidents of both parties to deepen the Alliance between our nations and advance a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Even in the moment he was attacked and killed, he was engaged in the work of democracy, to which he dedicated his life.

As a mark of respect for the memory of Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 10, 2022. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
And this is how publicly funded NPR covered the assassination of Shinzo Abe, by denigrating the man as a "divisive arch conservative." It's shameful that we still fund this propaganda.

Why do we still have our tax dollars propping up NPR?
This bunch of leftist assholes always talking as if they are the sole arbitors of the truth!

I couldnt stand the smug Cokie Roberts when she was on ABC.

HK Ag

Video of assassination of Japanese Socialist leader with a sword in 1960

That was brutal, real time attack at 1:10, wait for the slow motion at the end to see the attack

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
JULY 08, 2022

PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS

The longest serving Prime Minister in Japan’s history, Abe Shinzo was a proud servant of the Japanese people and a faithful friend to the United States. He worked with American Presidents of both parties to deepen the Alliance between our nations and advance a common vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. Even in the moment he was attacked and killed, he was engaged in the work of democracy, to which he dedicated his life.

As a mark of respect for the memory of Abe Shinzo, former Prime Minister of Japan, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, July 10, 2022. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Aren't they already at half staff for some thing or another? What should people do? Just take them down altogether? Maybe half of half staff. That's it. Quarter staff.

A clearer video, no gore. Looks like the shooter got lucky to me

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
the article does say he was doing a campaign speech. It's not clear whether it was for himself or for somebody else. Either way, I suppose his influence and drive has been to make Japan more of a driver in Asia and to rewrite Japan's constitution with respect to their military footing - something that China would be opposed to.

Abe has not slowed down since retiring. At the time he was shot, he was campaigning for another candidate in the upper house election this Sunday. His goal was to get enough seats in the house to revise the constitution to put the JSDF into a more formal entity, doing away with the "pacifist" article in the constitution which bans a standing military. He was also campaigning to double the defense budget in Japan. And it doesn't take a genius to figure out China figures in all of this.

His name, Mr Biden, Sir, was Shinzo Abe.

quote:

Originally posted by tacfoley:
His name, Mr Biden, Sir, was Shinzo Abe.

Could possibly be intentional to put his family name first, as is customary in Japan.

Here's an article about the firearms carried by Japanese police, and the gun culture there.

https://www.thetruthaboutguns....se-service-revolver/

It wasn't too long ago that the last members of the cult behind the sarin gas attack in the subway were executed. Looking forward to the news of the assassin being hanged.

I can't imagine what could've made me think that China might've had anything to do with it.

************************************

Abe Shinzo Spent His Last Days Advocating for Defending Taiwan from a Belligerent China

Former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo spent much of his public effort in the months leading up to his assassination on Friday advocating for defending the nation of Taiwan from a potential Chinese invasion, outraging the Communist Party into threatening a “bloodbath” if he did not stop.

Abe served as prime minister for a year in 2006 and again from 2012 to 2020, making him the country’s longest-serving leader in that role. He resigned in 2020, citing a longtime struggle with ulcerative colitis that had also curtailed his first term in office, but he remained a prominent figure in Japanese and international politics in the two years following his second resignation.

Abe died on Friday after an assassin, identified as Yamagami Tetsuya, shot him twice with what reports currently indicate appeared to be a homemade firearm. Japanese media report that Yamagami confessed to the crime but claimed to not have a “political grudge” against the former prime minister.

Abe was the longtime leader of the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has for years advocated for Japan to elevate its status as a defense power, including potentially establishing a proper military. Japan does not have armed forces – only “Self-Defense Forces” in light of its post-World War II constitution.

As part of his advocacy for Japan to elevate itself as a defense heavyweight, Abe had grown increasingly vocal in insisting that China invading neighboring Taiwan, a sovereign country that China insists falsely is a rogue province under Beijing, would be an “emergency” for Japan.

Under communist dictator Xi Jinping, China has grown increasingly belligerent on the issue of Taiwan, repeatedly threatening an invasion. Xi himself promised in a 2019 speech that anyone supporting Taiwan as a sovereign state would have their “bones ground to powder.”

Abe first appeared to return to political prominence in 2021 after some time in private life following his resignation. Reports in November indicated the former prime minister was planning to visit Taiwan to show support in person.

A month later, Abe publicly affirmed, “a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency,” a mantra he would repeat often for what ended up being the rest of his life. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded by promising a bloodbath.

“Anyone who dares to return to the old path of militarism and defy the limits of the Chinese people will face a bloodbath,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warned in December.



The Foreign Ministry’s official English-language transcript of Wang’s remarks omitted the word “bloodbath,” instead translating his warning as, “Those who dare to pursue the old path of militarism and challenge our bottom line will find themselves on a collision course with the Chinese people!”

Abe did not heed the warning. The former government head held a video conversation with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in March, repeating the call for the world to defend the island democracy.

“Last year, at a seminar held by a Taiwan think tank, I said that if Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem, and the Japan-US alliance also has a problem,” Abe told Tsai. “Of course, this was a way of expressing my own sense of urgency, and I myself advocated for the concept of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The vast Indo-Pacific Ocean where Taiwan and Japan are located must be an ocean in which we can maintain freedom and openness.”

Abe asserted in a column published in April that Russia’s expansion of its eight-year-old invasion of Ukraine two months prior should be a call for the United States to abandon its policy of “strategic ambiguity” with Taiwan. The policy consists of Washington not formally recognizing Taiwan as a state or engaging in any military pacts with it, but selling Taiwan weapons and hinting that it would support the island nation in the event of a Chinese invasion. Neither China nor Taiwan have any certainty regarding how America would act in the event of a Chinese attack.

“Given the change in circumstances since the policy of strategic ambiguity was adopted, the U.S. should issue a statement that is not open to misinterpretation or multiple interpretations,” Abe wrote in April. “The time has come for the U.S. to make clear that it will defend Taiwan against any attempted Chinese invasion.”

“The human tragedy that has befallen Ukraine has taught us a bitter lesson. There must no longer be any room for doubt in our resolve concerning Taiwan,” Abe concluded, “and in our determination to defend freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded to the column at the time through a statement, by – bizarrely – China’s ambassador to Liberia, Ren Yisheng.

“The Taiwan question is purely China’s own affair and none of Japan’s business,” Ren wrote. “It is dangerous and futile for some people in Japan to mention Taiwan and Ukraine in the same breath and incite ‘breakthroughs’ in the relations with Taiwan.”

Nearly a month before his death, Abe again defied China’s warnings, issuing remarks in the Axios Outlook Symposium encouraging Western countries, especially America, to “create a situation in which China will relinquish its goal of militarily taking over Taiwan,” Taiwan News paraphrased.

“We must not underestimate their [China’s] efforts. Any infringement on Taiwan is an infringement on Japan,” Abe repeated.

https://www.breitbart.com/asia...n-belligerent-china/

Good analysis of the myriad of security FUBAR that lead to this attack succeeding


https://www.washingtonexaminer...o-abes-assassination

a video of the assassination at:

https://twitter.com/i/status/1545429424971350016

warning: this video shows Abe being shot

quote:

Originally posted by oddball:
...but Abe was a Japanese nationalist, and much of the Far East really disliked the man, including Korea and China.

I wouldn't say much of the Far East, however there's a handful of countries that openly are pleased.
* China, principally the CCP for sure however, such an act like this isn't their MO. While the MSS is very sophisticated, they're more interested in killing you economically and having you bleed-out over a kinetic act like this.
* North Korea, for sure, definitely should be suspecious, just a crime syndicate owning an entire country that hasn't evolved since the early 1950's.
* South Korea, not a chance. They've got their grievances and Abe wasn't a favorite but, they also knew his interests was more about what Beijing was doing and not looking to restore some former imperial glory.
* Home grown nut-job, most likely. Don't over-think this, Japan has an extensive history of sociatile challenges that manifest themselves in odd and violent ways. Social conformity is a pillar of Japanese culture, while there's an open embrace of Western culture and various esoteric sub-cultures, you're also expected to contribute and conform as per cultural mores. This guy is sounding like he went off the deep end.