Reply #5: I think it's mostly poverty...

[krispos42]

The people with enough money move out to the suburbs, leaving the cities usually to either the wealthy in posh apartment buildings or the poor and working-class in crappy apartments.

But there is also the crowding, which offers more opportunities for crime while simultaniously reducing the chances of being caught. It also seems to be a good business environment for gangs. After all, most murders and their victims are repeat criminals and/or gang-affiliated.

The attitude of many is that part of being civlized means demonizing violence and the implements thereof because such things, such emotions and language and tools, are brutal and uncivilized. And cities, being centers of civilization and learning and culture, should naturally be above being brutal and uncivilized.

The real problem is not violence, it's aggression. It is perfectly okay in my book to be violent in response to an aggressor. The important thing is to not be the aggressor, to teach self-control and other ways of dealing with problems besides pummeling people. But to also be ready and willing to be violent in self-defense.