To put things in proper order, and to compare French and American crime rates for 2011
The United States crime total was 10,266,737 for a rate of 3,295 crimes per 100,000 population.
France’s overall crime total was 4,020,000 for a rate of 6151.5 per 100,000 population.
The United States violent crime total (murder,rape,robbery,assault only) was 1,203,564 for a rate of 386.3 per 100,000
France’s violent crime total (murder, rape, robbery, assault only) was 1,110,950, for a rate of 1,700.
The United States forcible rape total was 83,425, for a forcible rape rate of 26.8 per 100,000.
France’s forcible rape total was 20,327, for a forcible rape rate of 31.1.
The United States murder total was 12,664 murders, for a murder rate of 4.1 per 100,000.
France’s murder total, including Roma and other minorities, was 3,509, for a murder rate of 5.4.
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Some will say (rightfully so in some cases) that the stats can't be compared equally. Rape in the U.S. might mean penetration occurred, whereas in France it might just mean “touching”. But - the murder rate would be pretty hard to nuance like that!
To much Monty Python and Benny Hill.