Does the Uk have a lower crime rate then US?

Question

The reason I ask is because it does seem so. What happened to Rys JOnes is absolutly devasting and horrible and should not have happened. It seems so many are outraged as you should be but in the US this happens so often you don't even hear about it except maybe 30 seconds on your local news station. A while back I had asked why British Police did not carry guns and my sons British Soccer coach was telling me the other day they sign them out if they need them but for the most part they don't need them. I sure hope in your country immigration stops the gun smuggling and the authorities figure out how these folks that get them and spends some time and money doing so. I would hate for you to have to live in the fear of irresponsible gun use as we do here in the US. You can buy a gun in the US at Walmart and while I understand hunting is a really big sport something has to happen to stop making it so darn easy to get them.

Answer 1

Yes, crime in the UK is lower, especially armed crime, as it is illegal to own a handgun now, so a concealed weapon is much harder to aquire.

The UK police do not generally carry weapons, except in London, where a percentage do, however every force has "ARU"s out (Armed Response units) that carry a range of weapons in the boot (trunk for US readers) that can only be unlocked on authority from the Senior Officers on duty that shift.

To buy a rifle or shotgun, you first need to apply to local police for a licence for it, and show you have secure storage arranged, aither in form od a locked gun cabinet, or a gun club storage facility.

There is a small amount of gun and knife crime, but when it occurs there is a HUGE public outcry, because it is still fairly rare.

Having said that I moved from UK to Norway last year, and here the difference again is huge, It's been a news story for 2 years now about an armed robbery where the robbers actually used the gun. They all got sentences ranging from 9 to 20 yrs,

Answer 2

In terms of gun crime there is a much lower crime rate because it is VERY difficult to get a gun unless you are in the gun industry or it is required for your line of business (aka a farmer).
As a result the police rarely need guns.
They are getting hold of guns because their are so many imports coming into this country on a daily basis coupled with the ammount of travellers coming from Europe means it is easy to pass a batch through customs.That is very difficult to stop but the major problem is the gangs from housing estates and the fact they want to possess guns.This can only be solved through local support,discipline ect.

Although saying this America (considering it's population) has a lower rate of home burglary then the UK.Most likely due to the size of America and the fact that you are likely to get a bullet in your head if you try to to rob a home in the U.S.

It would be very difficult for America to get away from gun culture now.Even if they did impose strict restrictions on owning a gun it would take decades to rid the streets of them because they are in such large circulation.

Answer 3

you bet ye.