These statistics are interesting, if you compare the US and Canada, as we have similar cultures. Our gun laws here are much more restrictive. Note we have 1/4 the murders per capita. The figures are taken from 1999/2000. The graph was compiled to show the top 20 'developed' countries.
Map & Graph: Crime : Murders (per capita) (Top 20 Countries)
View this stat: Totals
Country Description Amount 1. Mexico 0.13 per 1000 people 2. Poland 0.05 per 1000 people 3. United States 0.04 per 1000 people 4. Finland 0.02 per 1000 people 5. Slovakia 0.02 per 1000 people 6. Portugal 0.02 per 1000 people 7. Hungary 0.02 per 1000 people 8. Korea, South 0.01 per 1000 people 9. Iceland 0.01 per 1000 people 10. France 0.01 per 1000 people 11. Czech Republic 0.01 per 1000 people 12. Australia 0.01 per 1000 people 13. Canada 0.01 per 1000 people 14. United Kingdom 0.01 per 1000 people 15. Italy 0.01 per 1000 people 16. Spain 0.01 per 1000 people 17. Germany 0.01 per 1000 people 18. New Zealand 0.01 per 1000 people 19. Netherlands 0.01 per 1000 people 20. Norway 0.01 per 1000 people Weighted Average 0.04 per 1000 people
Most of the local crimes of violence (ie, robberies and such) using weapons are with knives, although handguns are still available if you are into the criminal lifestyle.
To be honest, I would have felt MUCH safer carrying a small handgun when I was having problems with a stalker. But I chose not to.
A personal story,
My hairdresser's husband shot an intruder and killed him (he was a collector, and kept a licensed handgun by the bed). He was not charged, as the B&E artist did not stop when he shouted at him, and he was protecting his newborn child and wife. However, the poor guy never got over it; he had shot a 16 year old who was unarmed. The guilt was too much for him to bear.
{{{Avi}}}, I thought your assaults were connected with your work with street kids. I didn't realize they were random. That must have been even more traumatic for you than I had thought. No wonder you live in fear!
It's a really knotty problem. There are shades of grey to this issue, as with any other. Personally, I think handguns and automatic/semi-automatic weapons should not be available to the public. Criminals will always find a way to be violent and procure the weapon of their choice. But that is just my opinion, and I do not intend to put anyone down for feeling differently. Just sharing my own, unique perspective, which I hope you respect as I do yours.
tal