Some interesting points you make here. It is a very difficult subject and like you said guns may just be a symptom and not the root problem. When there are so may factors involved it is difficult to single out just one as the main cause for the problem.
With regards to the strictness and severity. When people are afraid of the consequences for committing a certain crime they are definitely less likely to commit that crime. Like the Saudi example, If one or two examples are made then the public will learn that the government is not playing around. However, the same law exists in Thailand where trafficking drugs is punishable by death, but because of corruption, drug traffickers can usually pay of police and continue on.
Communities is an interesting point. When people are more tied to their community, crime is more likely to go down because of the strong social fabric. I think this might be the most telling point. When people don't feel isolated, they are less likely to commit heinous acts.
My perception - which could be wrong is that my millennial generation feels like they are activist because of social media but in reality do close to nothing in their actual local community. Instead they are looking to federal government to take on their value system. Which is not the governments job.
I think the Saudi argument is incredibly extreme - the point being our government's role is to just enforce the law. I think if local people in local communities actually engaged their community like they engage on social media, corruption in politics would begin to get addressed, racial stigmas would start to fall apart, local business' would thrive and people would be unable to get to the point of lunacy as we have experienced here with Las Vegas. This takes time, patience, and individuals steeping to the plate.
I hope to keep that trend moving in Fort Collins Co...
Really appreciate this dialogue -