In the 2000s, Glasgow was known as one of the most violent cities in Europe. The average homicide rate from 2000 to 2002 was 62.9 per million people.[1] The homicide rate for San Francisco in 2014 was 45 per 100k people.[2]
Glasgow at its worst was comparable to Oklahoma or Indiana today.[3] Compared to Europe, the US just isn't safe.
(Homicide rates aren't a perfect metric, especially for comparisons over large periods of time, since social decline can be masked by medical advances. But they're good enough for back-of-the-envelope comparisons of similar areas.)
The US is a very, very low bar to clear. Things here in Europe are getting worse every year. Of course, not getting-shot-by-a-gang bad, but bad. They are not horribly bad, but they don't have to be this bad.
In the 2000s, Glasgow was known as one of the most violent cities in Europe. The average homicide rate from 2000 to 2002 was 62.9 per million people.[1] The homicide rate for San Francisco in 2014 was 45 per 100k people.[2]
Glasgow at its worst was comparable to Oklahoma or Indiana today.[3] Compared to Europe, the US just isn't safe.
(Homicide rates aren't a perfect metric, especially for comparisons over large periods of time, since social decline can be masked by medical advances. But they're good enough for back-of-the-envelope comparisons of similar areas.)
[1] https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/12/13133031/30384
[2] http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-San-Francisco-Californi...
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_by_homicid...