Shinzo Abe: Shooting deaths are rare in Japan. What we know about the nation's strict gun laws

Shinzo Abe, Japan's former prime minister, was gunned down Friday while giving a campaign speech in western Japan.

Footage aired by Japan public broadcaster NHK showed Abe collapsed on the street, bleeding and holding his chest with with several security guards running toward him. The shooting sent Abe, 67, into cardio and pulmonary arrest, and his heart stopped while being airlifted to a hospital. He was pronounced dead later there.

A suspect — Tetsuya Yamagami, 41 — has been arrested, according to NHK. The shooter apparently used a double-barreled handmade gun, seen on the ground in the NHK video, according to the Associated Press.

The shooting death of Japan's longest-serving prime minister stunned the largely gun-free nation, given the rarity of gun violence in a country with some of the world's strictest rules on guns. Here's what we know about gun laws in Japan.

Abe assassination: Ex-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe assassinated, dies at 67 after campaign shooting

History of gun control in Japan

Guns have been regulated in Japan since the mid-16th century, according to an analysis by the Library of Congress. In 1588, Japanese ruler Hideyoshi Toyotomi announced a "Sword Hunt," which banned civilians from owning swords and firearms.

Over the next 200 years, a series of stricter measures were put into place, according to the analysis.

What guns are allowed in Japan?

Japan's Firearm and Swords Control law says that "in principle, the possession of firearms and swords is prohibited." Only shotguns, air guns, guns with specific research or industrial purposes, or those used for competitions, are legal in Japan, the Library of Congress analysis says.

What are the requirements to own a gun?

Prospective gun owners under 18 (or 14 for "talented athletes"), bankrupt, mentally ill, addicted to drugs, without a fixed home or with a criminal record are not allowed to purchase guns, according to the Library of Congress analysis. Individuals with warnings or restraining orders for stalking or domestic violence, plus any individual who can be "reasonably expected" to harm themselves or others, are also not allowed to bear arms.

Owning a gun in Japan requires formal instruction and a rigorous background check including mental health assessments and drug tests. Prospective gun owners also have to tell Japan's Public Safety Commission where they will store the gun and how they plan to use it.

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How frequently do shootings happen in Japan?

Gun violence in Japan has remained low for at least a decade, according to data from Statista. In 2021, there were just 10 gun shooting incidents, eight of which were tied to crime syndicate groups. Some 17 gun shooting incidents occurred in 2020, 13 in 2019 and eight in 2018.

How many guns are in Japan?

The estimated total number of guns as of 2019 was 310,400, according to Japan's National Police Agency. Just 0.25% of civilians in Japan are estimated to possess firearms.

For comparison, 32% of American adults reported owning a firearm in 2020, according to Gallup.

Contributing: Celina Tebor

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Shinzo Abe: Shootings in Japan are rare. What we know about its gun laws