Man Kills at Least Seven in Stabbing Rampage at Popular Tokyo Shopping District

[Rich46yo]

Had they all been armed there would been alot more casualties as everyone would've shot each other, not knowing who started it, but everyone's pointing a gun at each other because everyone's holding a gun and looks like the shooter who started it. There's so many people over there.

you would better shut up,in your armed country there was so much examples of failures of your theory who can believe it will ever work ?

And the winner is.?

[Vulcan]

The question is if guns weren't banned in Japan what would the body count have been?

In such dense populations I imagine it would've got fairly high fairly quickly.

[Yeager]

The question is if guns weren't banned in Japan what would the body count have been?

In such dense populations I imagine it would've got fairly high fairly quickly.

Considering Japanese culture and recent history this is a reasonable statement.  One could fairly argue that, due to their recently demonstrated propensity for waging total war, post-war Japan was better off being unarmed in every aspect. 

It is telling that one violently sick man was able to stab 17 people, killing over half that number in a few short minutes.  I hope the Japanese legal system allows for capitol punishment........the debt the killer owes to the survivors is well beyond his own life to repay.  He should be put down quickly, for his own sake as well as everyone else's.

[Rolex]

A terrible tragedy.

I don't think you can draw a simple, one-size-fits-all conclusion about different societies and guns. Switzerland is well armed and Japan is unarmed, yet both are among the safest countries on the planet. Culture, more than weapons, affects overall crime rate.

[Vulcan]

It is telling that one violently sick man was able to stab 17 people, killing over half that number in a few short minutes.

I don't think it's that astounding. I've never been to japan but seeing the density of people in some areas running amok on a street chocka with pedestrians wouldn't be that hard with a knife. A firearm however, unless silenced, would attract instant attention. Besides it sounds like he injured his first victims with a truck first.

[SteveBailey]

The question is if guns weren't banned in Japan what would the body count have been?

In such dense populations I imagine it would've got fairly high fairly quickly.

Say, higher than 17?

[Slamfire]

Had they all been armed there would been alot more casualties as everyone would've shot each other, not knowing who started it, but everyone's pointing a gun at each other because everyone's holding a gun and looks like the shooter who started it. There's so many people over there.

Hmmm just wondering... this oft-stated theory that "if everyone is armed and someone goes postal - then everyone will start blowing everyone else away in the chaos"

Can someone cite an example where this has ever happened ?

Serious question - I'm not playing politics...

[Rolex]

World War II?

[SteveBailey]

World War II?

World war II was largely a result of gun control

[FrodeMk3]

There is one thing, in regards to the original post; Even in the U.S., there are not very many instances where a CCW or civilian pulled a gun to stop a shooter. The only famous one I can think of off of the top of my head, is the U of T observation tower shootings' in 1966.

In the report afterwards, one of the local P.D. officers' gave credit to the armed civilians. He stated that their fire made Charles Whitman keep his head down, thus making it hard for him to further kill anyone else.

But, he still killed 14 and wounded 29, as of that morning. No, the civilians' weren't shooting each other. They knew who the gunman was; All of the fire was coming from the observation deck of the tower. But, the civilians' weren't able to stop Whitman by themselves. Two cops (and one hastily deputized citizen) went up to the observation deck and killed Whitman.

From the U of Texas' shootings, it's really kind of hard to tell if an armed populace had much impact. The police report does credit them, but Whitman's rampage was very deadly anyway.

[SteveBailey]

There is one thing, in regards to the original post; Even in the U.S., there are not very many instances where a CCW or civilian pulled a gun to stop a shooter.

wrong, my friend.  They just do not get much publicity. Want some links?

[Rolex]

My girlfriend asked me what I was laughing about, and I told her that Japanese should be carrying guns to make Japan safer. She looked at me like I was nuts. 

Steve, you live in Arizona - the most dangerous and violent state in the entire US - and giving advice about public safety? We really don't need guns in Japan. Some people need them in America. You do it your way, other countries will do it their way. OK? 

[mg1942]

What's with that guy.  I swear Asian guys could do some serious damage when they get ticked off... just like VTK killer Cho Sueing Hui.

Btw, Is that a yakuza gone crazy or he just wants to kill some otakus?  I saw photos of the incident (2ch-style forums) and he dresses like your typical gangstas in Japan.

[Rolex]

He was not yakuza, just a nutcase. Real yakuza dress like bankers now.

[AWMac]

Different mindsets between the Far East and West.