Why are Americans the most violent "advanced" nation?

[billbuckhead]

Insurance, Life Expectancy and the Cost of Firearm Deaths in the U.S.


Despite its status as an advanced industrial nation, the United States has some unusual characteristics. For example, while its health care system is the most expensive in the world, its citizens are neither healthier nor do they live longer than citizens in other countries. In addition, while the U.S. is considered among the safest countries, deaths from gunshot wounds are staggeringly high. In 2000, the U.S. recorded close to 11,000 firearm homicides and more than 16,000 firearm suicides. The European Union -- an area with a population approximately 25% higher than that of the U.S. -- reported fewer than 1,300 firearm homicides for the same year. In Japan, the number was 22.

Jean Lemaire, a professor of insurance and actuarial science at Wharton, argues that these facts should be looked at in tandem. In a recent paper entitled, "The Cost of Firearm Deaths in the United States: Reduced Life Expectancies and Increased Insurance Costs," to be published in the September 2005 issue of The Journal of Risk and Insurance, Lemaire works through the medical and financial impact of firearms on American society. The results are eye opening.

Researchers who study firearm violence in the U.S. come at their subject from a number of perspectives, including the most obvious -- medical costs. Yet it is the other costs that are "more difficult to quantify," Lemaire writes. "They include the cost of public resources devoted to law enforcement, private investment by individuals in protection and avoidance, lost productivity of victims and changes in the quality of life, limits on freedoms to live or work in certain places, restrictions on residential and commercial location decisions, limitations in hours of operations of retail establishments, emotional costs to the forced adaptation to increased risk, and the cost of pain and fear."
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<http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/1214.cfm>

Compared with other developed nations, the United States is unique in its high rates of both gun ownership and murder. Although widespread gun ownership does not have much effect on the overall crime rate, gun use does make criminal violence more lethal and has a unique capacity to terrorize the public. Gun crime accounts for most of the costs of gun violence in the United States, which are on the order of $100 billion per year.

<http://www.brookings.edu/press/books/evaluatinggunpolicy.htm>

[BattyDem]

1. Watch "Bowling for Columbine"

It explains a lot about American violence :-)

[DanCa]

2. Another thought

Hmm all that red meat and abstince only programs make for some pretty tense rethugs no?

[swag]

3. Entertainment oustripped education.

[lynettebro440]

4. :)

And now we can buy an ozzie at our local WalMart. Pissed of repukes with oozies, reminds me of the good old days.:crazy:

[Sugarbleus]

5. Can't answer the entire thrust of the question for all of American..but

I can tell you why I'M RATHER VIOLENT these days!!! Not towards other countries of course but I'm sure fed up with this government and the upper class elitists.

I'm sick of living in a divided country where the other half wants to destroy me/you.

Time and unrelenting Pressure, that's all it takes for people to devolve into a state of rage.

[G2099]

6. Lack of self-esteem? Lack of Sex? Ignorance? Male ego?

All of the above?

[Oversea Visitor]

7. Cause you elected president sucks

They dare not take the challenge of working for the people making for all a better lives. They want to look nice get place in history so they take the easiest road to stardom.

Guess its hardwork to serve the people :(