Originally Posted by
Sticky
The reasons seem easy and obvious to me. "According to the University of Leiden study on violence, Australia and Britain have the highest levels of violence in the western world. The US isn't even in the top 10." IIRC, the study was commissioned by two west European governments (maybe Netherlands and Finland). Gun shootings are going to be higher in the U.S. because we are allowed to shoot someone trying to hurt us. If I lived across the pond, I'd probably wear running shoes all the time. ;)
Levels of violence from all sources? It is lower in the U.S.; probably because we often tend to carry a gun. Criminals probably hate any potential victim who turns out to be armed. Why are the levels of violence higher in the U.K. and Australia? Because of the stringent gun laws. The British crook knows that his law-abiding victim is highly unlikely to have a gun; or a knife of any size and effectiveness.
The knife laws are so stringent and silly, much like their gun laws, that some U.K. forums forbid any post from even mentioning them.
Lets give England and Australia mandatory handgun carry requirements for non-objecting adults; and institute Kennesaw, GA style home ownership laws. I'd bet the high levels of illegal violence drops like a rock in the first 3 months. Especially in the big cities with the highest rates.