Speedy, you've completely failed to explain how or why you think the U.S. is demographically like Germany or Japan: countries which are culturally and racially much more homogeneous than the U.S.; hence, not at all "similar" demographically to the U.S. 
		Originally Posted by I B Hankering
			
		
	
Since this is not gun-related, I'll respond.  The 2 main criteria I use when I talk about "similar demographics" is income level and education level.  Why do most people become criminals?  To get more money.  And what is the average education level of those committing crimes?  Low.  
But I do understand where you are coming from.  Japan certainly.  Germany not as much.  I'm sure what you are getting at is that since we have more blacks and hispanics than countries like Germany and Japan, that is the primary reason why our homicide rate is so much higher.  Correct me if I'm wrong.
Look at the list below of high-income countries.  Almost a perfect correlation between high -income and low homicide rates.  Not 100% but close. 
High-income economies ($12,616 or more)
    Andorra French Polynesia Norway   
Antigua and Barbuda Germany Oman   Aruba Greece Poland   Australia Greenland  Portugal 
    Austria Guam Puerto Rico   Bahamas, The Hong Kong SAR, China Qatar   Bahrain Iceland 
Russian Federation   Barbados Ireland San Marino   Belgium Isle of Man Saudi Arabia   Bermuda Israel Singapore   Brunei Darussalam Italy Sint Maarten   Canada Japan Slovak Republic   Cayman Islands Korea, Rep. Slovenia   Channel Islands Kuwait Spain   
Chile Latvia St. Kitts and Nevis   Croatia   Liechtenstein 
  St. Martin   Curaçao 
Lithuania Sweden   Cyprus Luxembourg Switzerland   Czech Republic Macao SAR, China  Trinidad and Tobago 
    Denmark Malta Turks and Caicos Islands   Estonia Monaco United Arab Emirates   Equatorial Guinea Netherlands United Kingdom   Faeroe Islands New Caledonia United States   Finland New Zealand 
Uruguay   France Northern Mariana Islands Virgin Islands (U.S.)