Reply #74: That's what I just said.

[mobuto]

A UN report recently stated that Britain actually has one of the highest rates of crime in developed countries.


I know. Reread my post, and you'll see that's what I said. They have a very high crime rate, but their MURDER rate is very low. Why? Because while there are a lot of criminals out there, they don't have access to guns.

If your theory holds true, then Switzerland would also have a high rate of gun crime since they have a high rate of gun ownership.

There are other factors at stake than rates of gun ownership. Switzerland is a homogenous, settled, largely agrarian country that's been at peace for three hundred years and bears little resemblence to the United States as a whole. You might compare Switzerland to Iowa or Wyoming - all have high rates of gun ownership, but they lack the socio-economic conditions that permit violent crime.

We have a crime problem which is really just an extension of fallout from poverty and the failed war on drugs.

I disagree. I think we have a gun problem AND a problem with the war on drugs AND a problem with poverty. These are not mutually exclusive.