The safest state to live

[splintercellsz]

I googled where Nevada would fall... #50. Probally due to Vegas!

Reno is pretty safe in my eyes. For a good-sized city, the people are pretty respectful, and neat to be around. We do have those rotten apples, but that is a given in the city life!

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Some of those things are like comparing apples and oranges for safety. Like SD being the 9th safest state due to low ratings of everything... but rape. They had the third highest rape rate in the country:

No. 9: South Dakota
Assault: 46
Burglary: 50
Murder: 33
Motor Vehicle Theft: 48
Rape: 3
Robbery: 48

Yeah, I'd rather live in a state with a higher rate of motor vehicle theft than rape or murder... Plenty of those states have low rates of other crimes but are ranked in the top 25% for sexual assault. That wouldn't make me feel safe.

Not trying to be racist or anything but I can see as how South Dakota would rank pretty high when it comes to rape. Quite often alcohol plays a major part (for both perpetrator and victim) in many rape cases and, sad to say, Native Americans and "fire water" is not just a stereotype. Back in the late '40s my Dad worked in construction in Alaska, which also has a large Native American population, and had seen the results of this combination first hand.

Now I'll take myself back to my corner.

 

[Undertow]

If anyone wants the honest shakedown on this...

...police would rather not file reports. The more reports they file, the worse their district looks. Bad district = higher quotas, less funding, harder work, etc.

I've detailed elsewhere on the lounge the multiple incidents where I have called police after a crime only to be told that a report would not be filed because of this or that reason.

Moreover, North Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana screw up the bell curve. They have a combined population of about 3,836,000; or the total population of Iowa and South Dakota. And believe me, IA and SD aren't what you would call the most populace locations in the US, if you know what I mean.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Indeed. Several times a year my car gets broken into by dirtballs looking for drugs, and after the third or fourth time the cops just said "Look, we aren't going to be able to do much of anything about this, so..."

 

[John in Covina]

One of the things is rural isolation seems to bring out the worst in some people. Watch the movie Deliverance and realize it did not come in with the Jerry Springer Show.

 

[kiwilrdg]

What is it about laws and numbers that makes you think things are safer?

Crime is just one of many dangers. Haiti under Papa Doc had a very low crime rate. I still did not feel safe there.

 

[1961MJS]

Indeed. Several times a year my car gets broken into by dirtballs looking for drugs, and after the third or fourth time the cops just said "Look, we aren't going to be able to do much of anything about this, so..."

Hi Lizzie

Well, at least they came out a couple of times. My firearms dealer called the 911 while watching several men beat up his neighbor's truck. The 911 operator said, well that's why we require you to have insurance. No one ever showed up. No report filed etc.

Later

 

[David Conwill]

One of the things is rural isolation seems to bring out the worst in some people.

At their core, isn't that what most Westerns are about as well? You could do in Dodge City in 1885 what you wouldn't dare do in Detroit.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Indeed. Several times a year my car gets broken into by dirtballs looking for drugs, and after the third or fourth time the cops just said "Look, we aren't going to be able to do much of anything about this, so..."

It's a shame that the laws regarding the use of deadly force for self-defense doesn't also include defending property.

 

[ButteMT61]

It's a shame that the laws regarding the use of deadly force for self-defense doesn't also include defending property.

Oh, if done correctly, they can lol

 

[jamespowers]

It's a shame that the laws regarding the use of deadly force for self-defense doesn't also include defending property.

I could have gotten the police there in under five minutes.
"Ok, don't come out then. I'll go out there with my shotgun and straighten things out. (sound of pump shotgun being racked) Time to see who feels lucky. Goodbye." lol lol lol It always works.

 

[jamespowers]

Oh, if done correctly, they can lol

Let's see, taser, bulldog, shovel with long handle, baseball bat, rubber hose......

 

[LizzieMaine]

A couple of blanks fired out the bedroom window when you hear noises in the driveway can work wonders.

 

[jamespowers]

At their core, isn't that what most Westerns are about as well? You could do in Dodge City in 1885 what you wouldn't dare do in Detroit.

Actually, it was the other way around. Pull a gun in Dodge City in 1885 and not only would you have fifteen guns in your face from just about every citizen in your vicinity but Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson and a host of other local lawmen would be on you too. It wasn't as bad as the movies proclaim. All the problems were only from 1872-1873 when they didn't have organized law enforcement.
In Detroit, you had big city anonimity to hide behind. You were more likely to get away with a crime there where nobody knew you and public records were not like they are today.

 

[jamespowers]

A couple of blanks fired out the bedroom window when you hear noises in the driveway can work wonders.

:rofl: :eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap:eusa_clap
That would get the police there fast too.

 

[Undertow]

A couple of blanks fired out the bedroom window when you hear noises in the driveway can work wonders.

If the doped up maniacs don't run at that sound, they will when the police arrive. That's actually a pretty fantastic idea!

(Just make sure you have some hot round for when the animals try to get in the front door, too!)

 

[sheeplady]

Not trying to be racist or anything but I can see as how South Dakota would rank pretty high when it comes to rape. Quite often alcohol plays a major part (for both perpetrator and victim) in many rape cases and, sad to say, Native Americans and "fire water" is not just a stereotype. Back in the late '40s my Dad worked in construction in Alaska, which also has a large Native American population, and had seen the results of this combination first hand.

I think it has more to do with poverty. It's rare to see poverty in the rest of the country like you do on the Pine Ridge reservation or any of the large reservations in that part of the country (Montana, SD, etc.). It's well known that poverty of that nature tends to lead to substance abuse, and in turn, I can see how that could lead more to violent crimes. But I think it has little to do with race and far more due to extreme poverty levels. On top of that (particularly in the case of SD) there is a long history of absolute racism and genocide against the Lakota which led to the income inequality- on top of being poor, your culture is so disrepected, and because of the location of where you live there is little opportunity. All those things lead people to drink and abuse drugs, which in turn can turn into other types of crime.

 

[AmateisGal]

With the exception of Omaha, Nebraska is pretty safe - though be prepared for our state religion of college football and the Cornhuskers.

 

[jamespowers]

I think it has more to do with poverty. It's rare to see poverty in the rest of the country like you do on the Pine Ridge reservation or any of the large reservations in that part of the country (Montana, SD, etc.). It's well known that poverty of that nature tends to lead to substance abuse, and in turn, I can see how that could lead more to violent crimes. But I think it has little to do with race and far more due to extreme poverty levels. On top of that (particularly in the case of SD) there is a long history of absolute racism and genocide against the Lakota which led to the income inequality- on top of being poor, your culture is so disrepected, and because of the location of where you live there is little opportunity. All those things lead people to drink and abuse drugs, which in turn can turn into other types of crime.

On the other hand, we have some tribes in California who make a ton of money from logging and other forms of natural resources that do quite well but they blow their money on things they can't afford, don't get educated with the money and instead end up being drug or alcohol addicted all the same. It didn't used to be that way either. I think it is more a problem now than it has ever been. My best friend is a native and I hear him complain about it to no end. He blames part of it on their own government(tribal council) which he has many choice words for. They are not forward looking and looking for ways to attract new businesses that will employ more fo the people other than just collecting checks. It kills him.

 

[jamespowers]

(Just make sure you have some hot round for when the animals try to get in the front door, too!)

That is what the shotgun is for.