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The perception of most in the western world is that the United States is more dangerous and a heaven for criminal activity. The facts and true reality are that except for rape and homicide the United Kingdom has a much higher overall and violent crime rate than the US. If you notice over the last twenty years the United Kingdom saw a surge in violent crime and has currently surpressed the United States in all crimes with the exception of Homicide and rape. The bases for this change is deterioration of the family structure, lower educational attainment levels, high levels of unemployment, high rates of recidivism and most importantly structurally lenient sentencing upon its criminal population. This is not a gun debate at all. The main cause for the United States high level of Murder is due to the "War on Drugs", so as long as that continues the US will always lead in homicide, which by in large only affects poor minority Americans who live in inner city areas where drug activity is high.
Will the UK ever clean up this mess? It is highly unlikely as they'd rather point the finger of blame, but this is what happens when you give criminals the rights over law abiding citizens. It is simply more profitable to be a criminal in the United Kingdom than it is in the US. We as Americans should be saluted for our tough stance on crime.
Your references are 10 and 15 years old, however here is an English response in the interests of full disclosure.
Both sides appear to agree that while simple assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft are more probable in England, rape, murder, and the chances of being shot are more probable in the Unites States.
These reports are all silly generalizations anyhow because most violence, murder etc. occurs in certain sectors/areas and not across entire nations.
Your references are 10 and 15 years old, however here is an English response in the interests of full disclosure.
Both sides appear to agree that while simple assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft are more probable in England, rape, murder, and the chances of being shot are more probable in the Unites States.
These reports are all silly generalizations anyhow because most violence, murder etc. occurs in certain sectors/areas and not across entire nations.
Your last paragraph is exactly why you're safer in the US than you are walking the streets of the UK. The likelihood of the average american to be shot is extremely rare if they do not live in high crime areas. Considering most Americans do not live in inner city high homicide areas most Americans never experience even a taste of high gun violence.
If they came out with figures comparing them now the UK would be even much worse. Remember crime in America has dropped over the last 20 years and continues whereas crime in the UK has risen and continues for the reasons i stated in the OP.
Your last paragraph is exactly why you're safer in the US than you are walking the streets of the UK. The likelihood of the average american to be shot is extremely rare if they do not live in high crime areas. Considering most Americans do not live in inner city high homicide areas most Americans never experience even a taste of high gun violence.
If they came out with figures comparing them now the UK would be even much worse. Remember crime in America has dropped over the last 20 years and continues whereas crime in the UK has risen and continues for the reasons i stated in the OP.
Well I have been to the UK several times...and it is a pretty similar situation....go to the bad areas of London or other urban centers and you may be asking for trouble...otherwise you are safe in most of the country.
As the OP mentioned, drugs are the main source of murder in the US. The "war on drugs" simply adds more tension to an already risky business. However, stopping this "war on drugs" probably won't work and is certainly not a good idea. The "war on drugs" has cleaned up or IS cleaning up a lot of dangerous cities across the US. NYC is a shining example. My city, Rochester, NY, its a bad town but boy oh boy are they cracking down... it started last year as murders and crime began to spread out of the dangerous areas into safe areas. Of course mostly related to drugs. Since then things have really cleaned up and they are starting to target the original dangerous areas, something that was somewhat neglected in the past.
go to the bad areas of London or other urban centers and you may be asking for trouble...otherwise you are safe in most of the country.
Like most places.
The problem is those bad areas are spreading rapidly. I think third world immigration is a big part of it. The amount of people moving out of the UK is increasing every year.
Sorry, but I feel a WHOLE lot safer in London than in Washington, D.C., or NYC. There are monitored police cameras everywhere and very few homeless mental patients on the streets in London and no gang wars. There is NO comparison between riding the Tube in London and the NYC subway. The Tube is clean, safe, and used by the majority of Londoners.
Sorry, but I feel a WHOLE lot safer in London than in Washington, D.C., or NYC. There are monitored police cameras everywhere and very few homeless mental patients on the streets in London and no gang wars. There is NO comparison between riding the Tube in London and the NYC subway. The Tube is clean, safe, and used by the majority of Londoners.
I wasn't implying that London was any worse than any big American city. There's no way in hell I would live in DC.
Sorry, but I feel a WHOLE lot safer in London than in Washington, D.C., or NYC. There are monitored police cameras everywhere and very few homeless mental patients on the streets in London and no gang wars. There is NO comparison between riding the Tube in London and the NYC subway. The Tube is clean, safe, and used by the majority of Londoners.
No offense did you happen to read any of the data. This is not an argument of whether or not you "think" or "feel" the United Kingdom is much more "dangerous" or crime ridden than the United States. This is not a matter of public opinion this is a fact. The reason why have been stated in the original post. Now the question is will the United Kingdom start coming down a lot more harshly on criminals or continue to allow them to hurt and attack their citizens with free will and abandon.
I wasn't implying that London was any worse than any big American city. There's no way in hell I would live in DC.
The same could be said about "Gunchester" also known as Manchester of Glasgow,which have crime and homcide rates that exceed that of Washington DC. As opposed to going off your own stereotypical baises why not look up the data. As an tourist you're much more likely to be beaten and robbed in both the United Kingdom and Australia for that matter than you are in New York City and Washington DC. Why? Well, the obvious why the hell would you be hanging around South Eastern washington dc? Why would you go to the Bronx? Geez, even when presented with facts you people still use your perverse logic to make it ok in your own minds. As American you should be ashmed of yourselves.
Second and last point this isn't about London, Washington DC, or New York this is about the overall crime problem that the United Kingdom has that the United States doesn't is that blatant and obvious fact alluding most posters?
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