Something else worth bearing in mind is that much of our violent crime - shootings, stabbings, beatings etc. - involves attacks by gang-members on members of other gangs in our major cities, it's hardly ever a 'simple' robber/victim incident.

And murder is so unusual here that you can pretty much guarantee that every killing makes the front pages of our national newspapers! and is reported on national TV news - even more so if it's a shooting or a stabbing. I'm certain that's far from being the case in the US.

Although I argued with BillD over one silly issue of UK sovereignty, I'm in complete agreement with his views on changing laws. But, like many other UK-ers here, I'm frustrated by your political system which makes changing gun laws virtually impossible, by the seemingly meek acceptance over there that bringing change about is 'too difficult', and by the idiot small-dicks who think everything there is 'jest fine 'n' dandy y'all'.

Time to take my dog for a five-miler. Sleep tight.