[Cboldt]

I see the phenomenon as similar to domestic abuse - it tends to run in families. Not saying it's genetic, but if you grow up in an environment that is abusive and/or violent, that is your "normal."

Same with welfare - it used to have some stigma attached, not any more.

As a country with diverse cultures, it would be odd indeed if all those cultures had the same (rather than diverse) rate of violence.

[umgud]

I wouldn’t expect all groups to have same or similar violence rates, but what were seeing in black ares are way beyond the norm. I think this has been on a rise post LBJ.