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A 1980s study on juvenile crime in Japan sheds light on American gun culture

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Re: A 1980s study on juvenile crime in Japan sheds light on American gun culture

#2
“Their reasons for remaining gun-free revolved around some loosely held concept of honor,” Beck says. “Being able to move your finger on a trigger is not really a skill that wows anyone.”

I find this mindset is reflected in a lot of manga produced in Japan. Heroes are often paired with swords: Rurouni Kenshin, Inu Yasha, and Bleach to name a few.

Re: A 1980s study on juvenile crime in Japan sheds light on American gun culture

#5
This conclusion is based on remembered anecdote from 35 years ago...bit shaky to make firm statements based on that.

Edit: Unless I'm missing something basic here? I don't see any reference or link to the "study on juvenile crime" the article title references.

Re: A 1980s study on juvenile crime in Japan sheds light on American gun culture

#6

“Their reasons for remaining gun-free revolved around some loosely held concept of honor,” Beck says. “Being able to move your finger on a trigger is not really a skill that wows anyone.” I find this mindset is reflected in a lot of manga produced in Japan. Heroes are often paired with swords: Rurouni Kenshin, Inu Yasha, and Bleach to name a few.

And yet (as I hear) the Samurai they emulate considered their bows to be their primary weapon, and their spears their secondary weapon, and considered it a disgrace to ever need to draw their sword.

They also used guns when they became available. They were soldiers and mercenaries, after all.

Re: A 1980s study on juvenile crime in Japan sheds light on American gun culture

#8
The retired cop then noted that even the yakuza don’t like to use guns these days — because the penalties are too high...One mid-level yakuza boss told me, “Having a gun now is like having a time bomb. Do you think any sane person wants to keep one around the house?”

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/01/06/national/media-...

Re: A 1980s study on juvenile crime in Japan sheds light on American gun culture

#9
Back in the early 2000s I visited Kitakyushu. From my hotel window around midnight, to 1am I witnessed some local hoodlums rev their car engine loudly, and then "run away" being chased by police in a car. The chase went around the square once and then peeled off to .. a red traffic light.

Both hoodlums and police stopped at the red light, and sat there until the light turned green before resuming their "chase" at approximately 20km/h.

I think they got away. Very slowly.

TL;DR yes youth culture is quite different around the world

Re: A 1980s study on juvenile crime in Japan sheds light on American gun culture

#10
post #6

“Their reasons for remaining gun-free revolved around some loosely held concept of honor,” Beck says. “Being able to move your finger on a trigger is not really a skill that wows anyone.” I find this mindset is reflected in a lot of manga produced in Japan. Heroes are often paired with swords: Rurouni Kenshin, Inu Yasha, and Bleach to name a few.

And yet (as I hear) the Samurai they emulate considered their bows to be their primary weapon, and their spears their secondary weapon, and considered it a disgrace to ever need to draw their sword. They also used guns when they became available. They were soldiers and mercenaries, after all.

Those old guns were probably a lot harder to use than a modern handgun or rifle
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