Originally Posted By: expat
Originally Posted By: engineerscott
Unlike in many ways to our European progenitors who seem to have lapsed into a sort of vegetative state where they wait to be told what to do by their government.
The good news for the moment is that Australia is still basically a low crime country. But, rest assured that if that changes in the future the criminal element will not be deterred by your gun laws and you'll start to see the kind of armed criminal versus unarmed victim dynamic that has become such a rampant problem in the U.K. in recent years.
I have to disagree with your first statement. It's been my observation that Brits and Europeans in general are quite quick to take to the streets to criticize their government, (see the recent protests against increased tuition costs in the U.K. or changes to the Govt pension age in France)They are probably more militant in this respect than North Americans.
Regards your second statement; I do agree the U.K. is having a problem with some forms of violence, mostly linked to 'Binge Drinking' But "Rampant, armed criminal versus unarmed victim dynamic"??? I'd like to see you news source or stats: U.K. v U.S.A.
Sure, Brits and Europeans will take to the streets when the government takes away a social welfare benefit, but will they take to the streets to protect their liberty? Frankly I don't see it, especially not on the continent.
Here's a table showing crime rates for the U.K. versus other countries.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/07/02/article-1196941-05900DF7000005DC-677_468x636.jpg
For comparison, the violent crime rate for the U.S. was 469.2 per 100,000 residents in 2005 according to the FBI.
In particular, large cities in the U.K. have seen an increasing number of home invasions, and unlike the U.S. a much higher percentage of these home invasions happen when the homeowners are actually home. I have a friend that lived in London a few years ago and he was shocked at the number of occupied home invasions that were happening in certain sections of the city.
Read the statistics, the U.K. does indeed have a crime problem.