With all the talk about comparing other countries to the US, I just came back from Taiwan for a week and thought I'd let you guys know my thoughts.  This was my 1st trip to Taiwan.

1) Cops have VP9's (see other post)
2) Cops don't wear body armor
3) Cops ride mopeds, no motorcycles
4) Government encourages gun ownership (assault rifles banned).  In case Taiwan gets invaded, all citizens encouraged to fight (militia)
5) Unknown about CCW
6) Majority of commercial & residential buildings have security at the entrance.  Saw many wearing body armor
7) There was a stabbing on the train last week.  Some guy went ape shit and stabbed a bunch of people with a kitchen knife.  IDK fatalities or injuries.
Didn't see any crackheads.  Or maybe IDK what a Taiwanese crackhead looks like
9) Even though side streets look like shitholes, they're safe to walk.  At 11pm, even grandma's walking home, couples walking, etc...And security at most buildings you pass anyways
10) I stopped "scanning" as much after the 3rd day.  See above.  Seems like Taiwan doesn't have a big drug problem.  Here walking down the block, I'm looking over my shoulder.  Streets always have people on them.  All types, couples, children walking alone or in groups, old people, business, etc...
11) More pick pocketers than anything else
12) Saw 1 bum in all of Taipei, Taiwan
13) IDK what a Taiwanese criminal looks like, but seemed like all the guys with tattoo's on their necks/face work at the night markets (like the carnival, games, food, clothes, etc...)

So in all, I felt like Taiwan is safer than Hawaii. Because over here, I feel a need for CCW, but not over there.  It could be because I'm a tourist so IDK what the criminals/crackheads look like and I was just not noticing them.  But Mrs. Changemyoil's family lives there and did mention violent crime is way less than in Hawaii.  But to only worry about pick pocketers.  But if I could, I would still carry in Taiwan, because unless there is ZERO crime, then if you're that 1 person that's a victim, stats don't matter.

A lot of those countries actually have consequences for criminal activity....  severe consequences...  just sayin 

interesting observations...

I believe a 9mm bullet to the head is a strong deterrent to criminal activity.
My old friend called it the "13 cent solution"
Much more economical than our current method of capital punishment. 

Interesting how that works.  I will be traveling a good bit in that general region in May/June and will find myself in Shanghai for a few days.  IME, I often feel safer in many places when traveling and Shanghai will probably be absolutely safer unless we go to war or something.  As mentioned, the Chinese don't play games.  However, there are definitely places that I find myself that I wouldn't go anywhere without security.  On another note, I often find that so-called lesser developed or poorer countries do a lot of things better than we do.  It is absolutely embarrassing flying into Honolulu Intl.  This is the first thing people see of Hawaii and it is shameful. 

"13 cent  9mm" ?

Must be reloading. 

Must be reloading. 

...it's Chinese ammo in China. Probably state-sponsored