I don't understand how people do not realize that fear is what keeps criminals at bay... Now of course, some just lose their shit and they are crazy and they go out killing people.
But if you are lets say a rapist, the idea of dying certainly will keep you from doing something you shouldn't do.
wouldn't want to get in this..... But isn't USA more violent and more criminal than basically any of these "EU-countries" despite the supposed fear planted in criminals ?
I mean in America there is death penalty which doesn't exist in any other normal country, people have plenty of guns, overall punishments are much harder, more people sit in prisons etc.
wikip gives for example following murder-rates:
USA 4.8
Denmark 0.9
Finland 2.2 (shameful figure but warrior-blood from Volga still sits in us somewhat)
Norway 0.6
Sweden 1.0
UK 1.2
Greece 1.5
Italy 0.9
Portugal 1.2
Spain 0.8
Germany 0.8
Netherlands 1.1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate#By_countryYou can see that US is on whole different planet.
Of course these are murder rates but I recall other crimes follow pretty much the same statistics.