>>>>What I find most interesting is the overall Total Crimes Per Capita:
>>>>
>>>>LOL. I wonder why you found that interesting? ;-) What about the included rider that "Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence?" ;-)
>>>>
>>>>But some of it is true. Unfortunately NZ has an extremely high male suicide rate and violent crime is "up there" in certain sectors of society. Theft and other petty crime is also fairly prevalent in some areas. Not a good look, I know.
>>>
>>>Actually, I was surprised NZ was up there but Finland and Denmark? I always pictured them as virtually crime-free... What are folks doing? Stealing firewood? :o)
>>
>>http://www.zimbio.com/Hells+Angels/articles/HRikGLzALQ9/Powerless+Danish+government+calls+help+gang
>
>Wow. I found this interesting:
>
>Authorities say the conflict originally stemmed from the desire to control territory for the sale of both hard and soft drugs but that it is increasingly fuelled by vengeance, with each clan avenging its own losses.
>
>It seems the sale of drugs (and the violence that goes with it) by gans is now universal.
>
>and this:
>
>Despite the authorities' best intentions and promises, Ilmaz judged "insane" how easy it was to obtain illegal weapons in Copenhagen, and suggested stronger measures to stop the gang war.
>
>Doesn't Denmark have heavy regulations on civilian firearm possession which essentially limits their use almost exclusively to gun clubs and hunting? Ewwwww, I can see where this discussion might go, but I really don't wish to start a flame war. I am seriously wondering how much gun control has really worked where the use of guns by criminals is concerned. Has it only limited the availability and ownership of guns by law abiding citizens? I really am curious. Should other options (like the training and certifications of civlians owning weapons) be considered?

I would think that gun control does reduce the number of guns in circulation and available to the lower levels of criminal but the gangs will always find a way to circumvent legislation.
These wars are drug related. Decriminalise drugs, tax them heavily (like alcohol) and make their misuse a medical problem. Works for me.