4 ms·

I have zero connection to Albania and completely agree. The whole tone of the article is of exploring some backwards nation. > Though it’s almost impossible to

I have zero connection to Albania and completely agree. The whole tone of the article is of exploring some backwards nation. > Though it’s almost impossible to substantiate the statistics, aid organizations estimate that at least 12,000 Albanians have been murdered for blood in the last twenty-five years. This is approximately the annual number of gun deaths in the USA.

nyolfen 9y ago
gun deaths are considered a huge problem and major political issue in the US; the US population is also well over 100x the size of albania’s.
- pc86 9y ago
  So as a percentage of population, this is equivalent to 1.2 million Americans being killed for blood every year?
  - SonOfLilit 9y ago
    every 25 years
  - wonnage 9y ago
    US number is annual and doesn't include deaths from other reasons. Albania number is sum of the last 25 years. So we could ignore other homicide weapons and say yes, this is equivalent to 48000 Americans a year. Considering that US gun violence has fallen by about 50% since the 90s [1], I'd say this is equivalent to about 3-4x the US rate over the same period. It's a lot but not some murderous wasteland. [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/03/weve-had-a-massive-decline-in-gun-violence-in-the-united-states-heres-why/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/03/weve-...
- maxerickson 9y ago
  I think there are lots of people in the US that consider gun deaths a huge problem. But the fair description of our collective sentiment in the US is that gun deaths are just part of the price of freedom.
- tryingagainbro 9y ago
  Newspaper gives different stats http://www.tiranaobserver.al/statistikat-ja-sa-vrasje-kane-ndodhur-ne-shqiperi-gjate-25-viteve/ http://www.tiranaobserver.al/statistikat-ja-sa-vrasje-kane-n... and in the later years apparently it rarely crossed 100 deaths (3 mil people). In 1997-98-1999 law and order totally broke down so there were a lot of deaths. Not to mention that all land became state property about 60 years ago and in early 1990's was distributed to others. Needless to say original owners were not happy. Today Albania is much safer than NYC, deaths are in most cases targeted (crime groups that go back and forth)

nyolfen 9y ago

gun deaths are considered a huge problem and major political issue in the US; the US population is also well over 100x the size of albania’s.

pc86 9y ago
So as a percentage of population, this is equivalent to 1.2 million Americans being killed for blood every year?
- SonOfLilit 9y ago
  every 25 years
- wonnage 9y ago
  US number is annual and doesn't include deaths from other reasons. Albania number is sum of the last 25 years. So we could ignore other homicide weapons and say yes, this is equivalent to 48000 Americans a year. Considering that US gun violence has fallen by about 50% since the 90s [1], I'd say this is equivalent to about 3-4x the US rate over the same period. It's a lot but not some murderous wasteland. [1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/03/weve-had-a-massive-decline-in-gun-violence-in-the-united-states-heres-why/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/03/weve-...
maxerickson 9y ago
I think there are lots of people in the US that consider gun deaths a huge problem. But the fair description of our collective sentiment in the US is that gun deaths are just part of the price of freedom.
tryingagainbro 9y ago
Newspaper gives different stats http://www.tiranaobserver.al/statistikat-ja-sa-vrasje-kane-ndodhur-ne-shqiperi-gjate-25-viteve/ http://www.tiranaobserver.al/statistikat-ja-sa-vrasje-kane-n... and in the later years apparently it rarely crossed 100 deaths (3 mil people). In 1997-98-1999 law and order totally broke down so there were a lot of deaths. Not to mention that all land became state property about 60 years ago and in early 1990's was distributed to others. Needless to say original owners were not happy. Today Albania is much safer than NYC, deaths are in most cases targeted (crime groups that go back and forth)