Study: Maine most peaceful state; Louisiana least
In the first-ever state ranking of peace in the United States, the Institute for Economics and Peace found that Maine was the most peaceful state in the country, while Louisiana came in last.
The international think tank, which also issues an annual Global Peace Index, found that the United States is 8 percent more peaceful in 2009 than it was in 1995.
The United States Peace Index defines "peace" as the "absence of violence."
To determine the rankings, the index looked at factors including homicide rates, violent crimes, percentage of the population in jail, number of police officers and availability of small arms.
The Index also estimates the "total cost of violence" for each state which reflects the cost of correctional and policing services, judicial system and medical costs associated with violent crime and homicide, and lost productivity and wages. In Maine, that total cost per person is $656; in Louisiana it is $2,458.
Regionally, southern states were the least peaceful, and states in the northeast were the most peaceful. During the years examined, New York experienced the most significant increase in peace, because violent crime dropped as well as incarceration rates. California and Texas also had increases in peace since 1991, while North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana saw the largest declines.
The ranking also found that peace was significantly correlated to economic opportunity, education and health, but is politically neutral - neither Republican nor Democratic states had an advantage.
Top 10 most peaceful states:
1. Maine2. New Hampshire
3. Vermont
4. Minnesota
5. North Dakota
6. Utah
7. Massachusetts
8. Rhode Island
9. Iowa
10. Washington
Top 10 least peaceful states:
1, Louisiana2. Tennessee
3. Nevada
4. Florida
5. Alabama
6. Texas
7. Arkansas
8. Oklahoma
8. South Carolina
10. Maryland
For the complete ranking, click here.
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The group defines peace as "the absence of violence." It looked at a set of five indicators, including homicide rates, violent crimes, percentage of the population in jail, number of police officers, and availability of small arms (per 100,000 people) to rank the states.
The Institute for Economics and Peace needs to take guns and number of police officers out of that mix and focus on the rest of those issues. guns are not the problem, people are the problem. We could through knives, baseball bats, crowbars, and forks into the mix too, while were at it lets add the number of fire fighters, school rankings, divorce rate, and percent of single parents as well just to be on the safe side. It seems like the Institute for Economics and Peace are forgetting about economics and more on gun control. The absence of guns only helps criminals who will get them anyway and prevents law abiding citizens from defending themselves. Thats a bad move just ask people from some of these countries
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
It has now been 4 years since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
after the first year results were now:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns! While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past years, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY! Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.
The group defines peace as "the absence of violence." It looked at a set of five indicators, including homicide rates, violent crimes, percentage of the population in jail, number of police officers, and availability of small arms (per 100,000 people) to rank the states.
The Institute for Economics and Peace needs to take guns and number of police officers out of that mix and focus on the rest of those issues. guns are not the problem, people are the problem. We could through knives, baseball bats, crowbars, and forks into the mix too, while were at it lets add the number of fire fighters, school rankings, divorce rate, and percent of single parents as well just to be on the safe side. It seems like the Institute for Economics and Peace are forgetting about economics and more on gun control. The absence of guns only helps criminals who will get them anyway and prevents law abiding citizens from defending themselves. Thats a bad move just ask people from some of these countries
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
It has now been 4 years since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
after the first year results were now:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns! While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past years, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY! Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.
Case in point, ..... the states who kill the most criminals seem to be the most violent states. Doesn't that show us that killing criminals increases public violence?
To pursue the below comments on race...
Yes, the states with the higher population of minorities were less peaceful; however, if those states solved the above three problems, would the minority issue still be relevent?
I think not. I have lived in all the southern states listed, including Louisiana and Texas, and the racism in the poorer rurel areas of southern states is rampant. Education is scorned and local health facilities for the poor are almost non-existant. As for economic opportunity, that is at zero.
It is easy to look at things in a simplistic manner, and hit on "blacks" as the key. But look past the ignorance and hate and you will find the real reasons.