Looking closely at this image of the weapon used, it appears to me to be a couple of pipes taped to a board and what seems to be some sort of electronic ignition source. Wires underneath leading into the end caps, and what may be a battery mounted underneath.
Can this even be technically defined as a gun, or an open ended pipe bomb? I don’t know.
I would consider this a firearm. Looks like a simple homemade muzzle loader but with an electric ignition system instead of a percussion cap or flint lock.
Goes to show you that outlawing guns won’t stop murderers. They will just get or make their firearms illegally or resort to other methods.
In most places, you could carry a cannon and no one would give you a second look. I think this might be especially true in a place like Japan where almost no one owns a gun, let alone a handgun.
Based on the images it looks like the shoulder strap the gun was attached to also had a blue sack attached before he was tackled. Suspect his homemade weapon was inside or behind the sack and it looked like a typical shoulder bag.
Being a former government official I suspect the security detail and measures were not extensive.
Not if it was electronically fired. Probably gunpowder and something like a ball bearing. They’ll most likely never reveal too many details so other wannabes don’t try to copy it.
However, I’m sure we smarter-than-average gun owners could easily figure it out.
Possibly, but mags are probably just as hard to come across in Japan as guns. Could be just another piece of wood covered in duct tape. Definitely not a Hogue.
Here’s the full photo. The security person seems to be carrying a small subcompact or maybe a small revolver. He didn’t even draw it. Funnily enough his holster also seems to be held together with tape. Must be a Japan thing.
By the way the photo credit is Nara Shimbun/Kyodo News via AP. Don’t wanna get in trouble for using it.
Thanks for the clearer image. Haven’t watched any of the videos but assume he pulled it out of his pack?
Looks like only a couple of guards were somewhat nearby and the area wasn’t blocked off. Think it would be hard to stop a person who didn’t mind getting caught given those conditions. Unless the guards were being very vigilant and responding aggressively to anyone who approached.
Can’t say I disagree with you @Barry54 , An AR mag would be as hard to get as any real gun parts. Just has a very recognizable arc. The video I saw showed smoke. But we all know how inaccurate early release news clips can be.
Strictly speaking, in the U.S., a firearm is “any weapon (including a starter gun) which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive” (18 U.S.C., § 921(a)(3)). So technically, yes. At least here anyway.