We Americans often view the United States as the greatest nation in the world. Millions go to great lengths to live here, even illegally. We have much to be thankful for. Yet, we also face significant problems, some of which we have refused to solve. One serious threat is violent, anti-social behavior. Yes, we have a legal system, and public officials are “doing” much about such behavior, but the system and official action is not working anywhere near an acceptable level.

Among advanced nations, the U.S. is one of the most dangerous places to live. We deride other nations for allowing roaming bands of criminals, such as al-Qaida and the Taliban, and even send young Americans to fight and die to protect others. Yet here, in America, in our own neighborhoods, we allow predators and bands of criminals to operate to the point of unnecessary danger.

On average, more than 2,000 Americans become homicide victims every month. This represents a greater loss of life in two months than American casualties in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars in eight years. Billions of dollars are lost to criminal activity. This affects us all. How often have you had to worry about your property, personal well-being or children’s safety? How much more do we pay for goods, services and insurance to compensate for criminal costs?

Our leaders’ ineffective “solutions” are often disturbing. “Experts” announce that as potential victims we should “lock everything up,” “avoid moving about too freely” and simply “give-up valuables when mugged.” In many neighborhoods, iron gates and bars adorn doors and windows in a futile attempt to ward-off criminals. Such neighborhoods are little more than reverse prisons where law-abiding citizens barricade themselves in domestic prison cells, while criminal forces roam the streets free to ply their stock and trade.

There have been reports of a supposed “drop in crime.” Yes, some statistics reveal selective percentage reduction of crime in some cities. Unfortunately, few contrast these so-called lower numbers with historical lows, or with other nations. New York City officials have been congratulating themselves for a “drop” in the city’s crime rate, while New Yorkers suffered 2,351 crime-related homicides, 2,801 reported rapes and 73,948 assaults/robberies just in 2008.

As you read this, Chicago’s murder rate alone is 15.65 per 100,000 people. Add other types of homicides and your chance of being killed in Chicago is four times greater than being a front-line soldier in Iraq.

Making the situation worse is the growing viciousness of America’s criminals. What kind of nation do we live in that allows violent gang members to smash-in the skull of an innocent youth on his way home from school, then stomp his body to a pulp in broad daylight? What kind of society allows ruffians to douse a young boy with alcohol and set him ablaze? What does it say about America when a gang rapes a girl while another dozen watch and take pictures? What kind of criminal justice system allows a violent five-time felon, facing eight more charges, to post bond, walk out of jail and murder four police officers in cold blood. Why do we allow individuals dedicated to harming others to commit violent crimes over and over again? And we think Somalia is barbaric and violent!

Many Americans have been programmed to question and debate anything and everything. Virtually every crime and criminal now has apologists and supporters. For example, it is unlawful to “sneak into” or “break into” the United States. Yet politicians and “experts” insist any action against illegal immigrants is unfair. Some claim that criminals are not really bad, but compelled into criminality by forces such as poverty. This apologetic link between being poor and criminal is weak. Suggesting that rich people are generally “good,” but poor people must turn to crime and violence is nonsense; just ask Bernie Madoff and O.J. Simpson. In fact, during the Great Depression, murder rates were low. Yet during times of plenty such as the 1920s, 1960s and late 1980s murder rates were extremely high. Apologizing for violence undermines clear understanding between right and wrong, and here we come to the point.

To significantly reduce violence, we do not need a 1,246 page crime bill; we need to re-establish three basic principles and the backbone to follow through:

1. Re-establish fundamental American principles regarding right and wrong and prioritize them. Since the 1960s “experts” have bamboozled officials into believing that “right and wrong” is relative. Activists have driven the Ten Commandments from open society. Gratuitous violence in movies, music and video games is now the rage. Apologists make excuses for violence. Why? Physically hurting others is not a gray area. We can no longer accept violent behavior. We must teach our children that hurting others is wrong, period. We must teach this with the same vigor that we teach reading and writing.

2. Demand primacy of rights. Recently “experts” have convinced many that “individual rights” are supreme. Officials guarantee criminals enough rights to make a mockery of civil society. As a nation, we must recognize that the right of law-abiding citizens to be secure from criminal injury has primacy over criminals’ rights to overtly or covertly, directly or indirectly act in ways harmful to citizens.

3. Guarantee swift and certain justice. Our criminal justice system has become overly complex, convoluted and filled with loopholes. Most criminals understand the judicial cat and mouse game and “play” the system. Plea-bargains, motions, postponements, appeals, and “technicalities” go on and on, muddling our system and costing the taxpayers billions. America has achieved a literacy rate of 99 percent, wiped-out deadly diseases, sent humans to the moon and back safely, and developed an information/communications network that boggles the human imagination; certainly we can establish a criminal justice system that is just and effective at protecting Americans.

It’s time to face facts, demand reform, be vigilant and support our police, less your family be next.

William G. Keczkemethy lives in Joplin. He is a Joplin School District teacher.