scotsman, can you give us some insight as to what you are seeing in your large cities regarding real violent crime (not going out on a boat), gangs, guns etc. Thanks.
Hi.
The major cities (London, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Carfiff, Swansea etc) have always had organised crime and always will. They run the usual: drugs, women, gambling.
Gangs also have existed for 100 years in major cities. Where they used the knife and still do, guns are more prevalent. Like you, we have a young violent core who have watched too many films and carry around guns like they are straight outta Compton....
In some cities, that core is black kids. In some, its white. In others, its a mix.
They are certainly more violent than they were, more disposed to use guns, although murders between gangs is still low and would be seen by you as an American, as ridiculously low. Guns used tend to be handguns and occ. shotguns as opposed to Uzis, assault rifles, although those are sometimes used by younger gang members.
The organised crime and the city gang violence has risen and is a serious problem. But it is still probably ridiculously low by comparison with US gang culture/murder/death. The UK (pop 60m) had less than 700 murders last year.