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RE: One dire scenario with two different endings.
Unofficially we may get harsher treatment in the legal system if we defended ourselves in Australia then the attacker. People are not stupid, (uneducated maybe but not stupid) in switzerland they have plenty of guns per capita and comparatively insignificant gun crime. Are we prepared to say the swiss are less stupid, or more responsible then we are? I dont think that most would want to admit that. For the people who have been educated in gun usage I don't see a problem with gun ownership. Resteemed
I've thought a lot about why the Swiss have relatively little gun crime despite lots of people having assault rifles in their homes in Switzerland (because so many military reservists are required to keep their military weapons in their homes). I think it may have a lot to do with a different culture and lower rates of violent crime in Switzerland. To become more informed prior to posting this, I looked for statistics on Swiss vs. US crime and found some numbers that show that while overall crime rates in those two countries are similar, the murder rate is about six times higher in the US than in Switzerland even after adjusting for the population difference. That doesn't really fit the narrative of either side in the gun control debate in the US, but I think that's the main reason. If you don't want to murder anyone, having a gun in the closet doesn't result in you murdering people. If you are a criminal who wants to kill people, having a gun handy might very well make the difference between whether you do it or not. Is there some way we could figure out how to have fewer criminals (outside of prisons) in the US instead of focusing only on whether or not there should be fewer guns?
I think there is a way to do it and in my opinion it is through education, now this is just my guess and I say this not through experience, but speculation of countries like Switzerland that have compulsory service. An education that instills a sense of responsibility (for self, community & country; maybe in that order) and a sense of self reliance. Self reliance, because I think that as people lose opportunity (lose the means of production; i.e. no jobs etc) that their economic situation will potentially become worse. I also think it is inevitable that they will lose the means of production, however with the right education, maybe people can re think their consumerism (i know this is wishful thinking).
The reason I mention self reliance as a solution is firstly, because crime is mostly relegated to areas of low socio-economic conditions, you don't need to be an academic to know this or why this is. Secondly, I suspect that re-evaluating ones expectations for life may be required in the future.
I'm not American, but I'm willing to bet the "American dream" is not a house with some land, a vege garden and some chooks. My impression of the American dream is ridin' dirty in a Bentley with a couple of hookers and some cocaine.
So for me education and a cultivation of a more honorable culture, would be the key. On the proviso that their is opportunity to improve ones situation through hard work.
I suspect that the solutions prescribed for creating fewer criminals are beyond what we would like to see Government being involved in anyways. Mainly early childhood experience plays a crucial role, exposure to violence, parents in prison, poverty and lack of opportunity for social mobility --- these are all factors that create a perfect stew for creating criminality in larger numbers in today's culture.
@somena
I don't think that government involvement needs to be increased, just adjusted (i.e. adjusting education) to promote a more well rounded human being. School doesn't do this, not even here in Australia. Obviously I understand that any government has little interest in improving anything, my opinion is that a stupider population is better for them.
I mostly agree with this, however some kids develop their criminal ideas almost instantly, when somebody convinces them of their oppression (from experience, luckily I grew out of that) and the person goes out to get theirs. Otherwise yes, a lot of this stuff can be dealt with at a young age.
Largely agree with that, however to expound on the "exposure to violence" part, I think it really depends on the type of violence and the motivation behind the violence. I know some people who have had been more exposed to extreme violence at a young age, in war torn countries and have immigrated here to be well rounded, law abiding citizens. On the other hand, I have seen people who are exposed to say typical low socio-economic violence and absolutely go on to criminal behaviour. I also want to make note that I am not referring to: violent music, movies and video games, as there have been studies done that refute this claim. Generally speaking a sane person understands reality from fiction (or at least used to).
We (western nations) have a lot to be concerned about and the governments have a lot to answer for (degrading of education), as we are slowly having the ability to provide for ourselves, taken away (automation). I am of the opinion that it will only get worse, therefore crime will only get worse.
But in many ways, unless the stats are being juked in some ways, crime is actually going down in North America.... most types of crime anyways. (If I am not mistaken. I could be wrong,, but I could have sworn I saw some reasonably cited stats on this subject)
I have actually heard this as well, but never checked. On the other hand I have heard that Chicago is crazy. Often the devil is in the detail (i.e. crime being confined to certain areas) when it comes to stats. It reminds me of the "Wire", the departments were changing the stats, not proof of course, but if they thought of it, I am sure that it has crossed the minds of others.
I think there was a youtube video of Thomas Sowell somewhere on this subject, I'll try and locate it.
Thanks for the RS and input, Louis. I agree entirely.
The only country that we're supposed to compare ourselves to is the US.
The only stat we're supposed to look at is 'Gun deaths'
(Which includes suicides, shootings by police, legitimate shoots in self defense, and a whole tonne of murders which would have been committed another way in the absence of a gun.)
Hi @mattclarke I've written an article about you, Check it out if you can, thanks.
30 Best Steemians Of The Day To Follow 24th July 2017
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Thanks mate. I'll have a look.