>I know you can come up with a more compelling argument than this one, that not all catastrophes involve guns. (The tsunami -- no guns! Katrina -- no guns! Geez). The incontrovertible fact remains that we have a gun fatality rate which is orders of magnitude higher than that of any other developed nation. Hell, throw in the undeveloped nations. Toronto is freaking out over a gun death number that would have every big city police chief and mayor in the U.S. turning cartwheels down Main Street. We have a problem they don't. So what do you think the explanation is? I have a few theories but am interested in yours, based on your 31 years on the force.


I'd say it has a lot to do with TV romanticizing gangstas, Crap music, a breakdown in the family structure so that you've got grandmothers raising kids while the crack addicted mother roams the streets or sits in jail. Those things have a lot to do with it. I'd say the number one reason is that there is almost NEVER a father in the homes in the hood. Families build good kids - IMHO.