4 ms·

My theory is that because guns are banned in the UK, the only real way to reduce crime is to have cameras everywhere.

soared 7y ago
I’m not following the logic - are you implying police with guns are intimidating, which is the only effective way to stop crime? There are many countries that counter that multiple ways. Look at the militarized police in Central American countries that are 10x more intimidating but much less effective.
- pmorici 7y ago
  I think they are saying that part of the calculation a person makes before committing a crime is what is the likelihood that I am caught or seriously injured. In a society that outlaws citizens having guns the chances of serious injury are much smaller than one where say 20% have a weapon. To the extent that CCTV Cameras increase the likelihood of being caught they have the same deterrent effect of knowing that there is a 20% chance your victim is able to defend themselves.
jinglebells 7y ago
And yet the crime rates in the UK are considerably lower than the US, could it be because guns aren't widely available?
- taborj 7y ago
  That's not the whole story. Here are some numbers: https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/United-Kingdom/United-States/Crime https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/United-Kin... You'll note that, yes the US has a higher violent crime rate, but other crime rates are higher - some far higher (drug offenses, for example, are 327 times higher in the UK; total crime victims is 25% higher in the UK, etc). So certain types of crime rates are lower - even considerably lower - than the US. But other types of crime rates are higher - even considerably higher - than the US. It's like there are pros and cons to everywhere.
  - BeeOnRope 7y ago
    I think we can be reasonably certain that drug crimes are not 327 times higher in the UK.
  - jermaustin1 7y ago
    I am 90% certain this fact is incorrect, and cannot find a linked source that claims this: Drug offenses: 183,419 per 100,000 people
- jsbaby608 7y ago
  This is exactly my point. Because guns are banned, they need to have cameras everywhere to reduce crime, which seems to be working. I feel like I can't even have a regular conversation on HN, if it`s against groupthink, without being down voted to death. It`s sad that a seemingly intellectual group has to be so close-minded.

I’m not following the logic - are you implying police with guns are intimidating, which is the only effective way to stop crime? There are many countries that counter that multiple ways. Look at the militarized police in Central American countries that are 10x more intimidating but much less effective.

pmorici 7y ago
I think they are saying that part of the calculation a person makes before committing a crime is what is the likelihood that I am caught or seriously injured. In a society that outlaws citizens having guns the chances of serious injury are much smaller than one where say 20% have a weapon. To the extent that CCTV Cameras increase the likelihood of being caught they have the same deterrent effect of knowing that there is a 20% chance your victim is able to defend themselves.

jinglebells 7y ago

And yet the crime rates in the UK are considerably lower than the US, could it be because guns aren't widely available?

taborj 7y ago
That's not the whole story. Here are some numbers: https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/United-Kingdom/United-States/Crime https://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/United-Kin... You'll note that, yes the US has a higher violent crime rate, but other crime rates are higher - some far higher (drug offenses, for example, are 327 times higher in the UK; total crime victims is 25% higher in the UK, etc). So certain types of crime rates are lower - even considerably lower - than the US. But other types of crime rates are higher - even considerably higher - than the US. It's like there are pros and cons to everywhere.
- BeeOnRope 7y ago
  I think we can be reasonably certain that drug crimes are not 327 times higher in the UK.
- jermaustin1 7y ago
  I am 90% certain this fact is incorrect, and cannot find a linked source that claims this: Drug offenses: 183,419 per 100,000 people
jsbaby608 7y ago
This is exactly my point. Because guns are banned, they need to have cameras everywhere to reduce crime, which seems to be working. I feel like I can't even have a regular conversation on HN, if it`s against groupthink, without being down voted to death. It`s sad that a seemingly intellectual group has to be so close-minded.