Quite interesting the way this thread is going, too bad we don't have more input from the UK however.
"We all do respect, they didn't realize anything."
You probably meant with all due respect, I get the picture.
"Every single time there is a large shooting in the US, the British news media reports that it because of loose gun laws in America."
There's no such thing as a small shooting but if they reported each and every one they'd have a paper thick as the London telephone directory with nothing BUT shootings in it. Anyway, that's the press and like all news media (we all know that crap is king, give us dirty laundry) it all comes down to sensational journalism to sell product.
"I'm not making this up, do the research."
Already done, I've been tapped into media all over the planet for 30+ years.
"Just remember there culture is different from ours."
Not as different as you think, you'd be surprised at how my friends in the UK and I are all tuned to the same wavelength.
"Sure, they don't involve too many guns. But you can be assured that the chances of your car or home being broken into are quite high, your chances of being mugged are high, fraud is common and drug fueled crime is very high."
Same here, but I'm sure everybody knows that.
"However, with the population density you have in the UK....for the first time in my life, I wish I did have a gun over there."
How unfortunate you landed in a high crime area. Trouble is firearms are illegal so you would only have to posses one and you'd be in deep doggie doo doo. Oh I know it's the spirit of the thing, just being pedantic.
"The UK is a amazing place, very beautiful spots to see, and such. In general the people are very nice. Great place to visit, but you don't want to live there."
They say that about New York (;->) and while on the subject York as a FANTASTIC railway museum I would LOVE to spend a few days at.
"One of the things that I did was compare the crimes rates between the US and the UK. And believe it or not it showed twice as much in burglaries and muggings."
I suppose the US has the higher crime overall simply because you can fit the whole of the UK into one of our mid sized states.
"The answer isn't very easy."
The answer is EXTREMELY easy but the solution impossible, you'll get it if you just think a while.
"It's not a lack in government programs to limit poverty."
Of course not, while poverty does drive people to crime you can't say that about the worst criminals of all, the extremely wealthy. Before we get TOO political here just stop and think about this clue to the above, human nature trumps righteous upbringing.
Interesting comments about Irish merchants, radios and shoplifting. That works where like in times past in the US shops are clustered in the CBD, letting each other know what to watch for is an excellent form of crime prevention. No, it doesn't involve police because they're crime apprehension. From what I've seen the Irish are a breed apart, they have their old fashioned ways. You may want to take on one Irishman but surrounded by his friends you kind of lose that fighting spirit. Then they take their time calling the cops, no hurry cleaning up the mess on the floor.
"...but with 30 to 50 people involved the criminal may think twice before trying anything in any of those stores."
You don't need THAT many, 3 to 5 gorillas or chimps with shillelaghs are quite enough. Heh, even El Presidente knows when in Dublin a hurley stick is as good as a shillelagh when the chips are down. "Ya want a piece of THIS?!"
