You want to know the ugly truth?

Here it is:

"In 2006 in the United States homicide was the second leading cause of death for infants. Homicide with a firearm was the second leading cause of persons between the ages of 10 and 24, the third leading cause of death for persons between ages 25 and 34 and the fourth leading cause of death for persons between ages 5 and 9 or between ages 35 and 44. For persons between ages 45 and 64 homicide with a firearm was the seventh leading cause of death. Homicide with a firearm or by any means was not among the top ten causes of death for persons aged 65 or older whereas there were at least two forms of homicide among the top ten causes of death for all persons under age 44. (See 10 Leading Causes of Injury Death by Age Group for details.)"

The ten worst states for murder in the US are all Western and Southern states where gun culture is at it's most prevalent:

1) Louisiana
2) Maryland
3) Mississippi
4) Nevada
5) Arizona
6) Georgia
7) South Carolina
8) California
9) Tennessee
10) Alabama

Of the twenty worst cities in the world for murder in the late nineties, ten of the twenty are American cities. Out of the top ten, all but two are American cities (#7 is Moscow and #10 is Helsinki).

In the 2000s it dropped by world region--the US was still topped only by North and South Africa, Central America and South America. But of all the Western countries, we dominate in murder rates by far. Is it really okay with you that we're only marginally better than regions overrun by drug cartels, gang violence and tribal warfare? Freedom is a good thing, I get it. But it isn't always the best solution to problems. What about a balanced approach?