That is definitely not true. Chicago has >500 gun fatalities this year, and only ("only") 10 officer-involved gun fatalities.
It might be true that more people are shot by cops in the US than are shot period in the UK (per capita), but that's not the same thing at all.
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Sadly it is , having witnessed the decline of a family member myself.
Problem here is it's treated as an illness and until ...... i'll stop there before i start ranting.
Sorry the statement and statistics weren't related , the first sentence was just an unconfirmed memory of something i read somewhere and the statistics serve to show the massive difference between the two countries when it comes to the use of ' deadly force '.
Having dealt with the Department of Justice many times, I am not a fan, but they track crime statistics, including gun "violence", also including the demographic characteristic of the violent offenders, which can speak for itself. It can be found here:
Firearms and Crime Statistics
I don't think they track very well, if at all, the defensive use of firearms which results in a non event, although there is scholarly research on this if you are interested in facts, and these are not hard to find. One of my day jobs is practicing law, and from time to time I have to deal with crazy, potentially violent, people, and I find that a firearm in the desk beats waiting for the cops like a full house beats two of a kind, although the police do respond very quickly to calls like that around here.
My experience is that criminals are about as well armed as anybody else - they hang with criminals after all. Maybe other countries have a more law abiding class of criminal than we have. I don't think too many of the ones I've known would be all that interested in complying with a gun ban, especially considering the fact that most are already banned from owning firearms. Some would probably consider the base of targets of opportunity to be greatly expanded by something like that. Just my personal opinion.
Back on topic, I agree with the other fellow that suggested that the USA is likely not a good fit for the OP. For people interested in the Wild West ( most of it wasn't that all that wild - but Indian Territory sure was ) I am located on it's precise frontier - the proverbial hell on the border of True Grit literature - the dividing line of the law and anything goes - Judge Parker's gallows could hang up to seven condemned miscreants at a time. It's open to the public, along with his courtroom, Dungeon ( er, jail ), the fellow thought to be the real Lone Ranger rode for him, all of that stuff ....
Win W5JAG
500 deaths by gun in one city alone this year, that is a shocking figure and even more reason for change.
I grew up in Denmark and moved to Seattle for my graduate school work. I ended up liking the Seattle area and stayed for 16 years before moving north to Calgary a couple of years ago.
The Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, British Columbia) is a wonderful place, in particular if you're west of the Cascade Mountains and like water activities. Vancouver, BC has been voted one of the best place in the world to live for many years in a row for a reason. Calgary places 5th on that list if I recall correctly, so don't ignore the inland locations. 🙂
Getting to the US as a student is relatively easy. At least it was in 1999 when I did that. You'll need an F-1 or J-1 visa. The US immigration system is onerous to say the least and they do their best to make you feel like a criminal suspect, but it is possible to get in. The university where you'll be doing your work will help. The sticking point is getting to stay after you graduate, assuming that's your goal. With an F-1 visa you have 60 days to leave the US after you graduate. With the J-1 you have to leave immediately. If you're fortunate enough to have a job offer lined up before your visa expires, you can apply for an H-1B "advanced worker's" visa. The only snag there is that there is only a very limited number of them available per year. If you don't get one, you're out.
That said, if you're looking at the the US and have California picked out for political reasons, I would encourage you to also look at the many other liberal enclaves on the West Coast - Portland, OR; Seattle, WA; Bellingham, WA to name a few.
The immigration system in Canada is easier to work with in the sense that the system works well for its intended purpose and is relatively easy to navigate. Canada is also big on attracting people with brains. For example, as a graduate from a Canadian university you become eligible for a Canadian Experience program where you get a work visa for a year (if I recall correctly). Basically, it's much easier to stay once you graduate. With a Master's degree you might even be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Federal Skilled Workers program. That's how I got in.
With my skills and work experience I was able to apply for permanent residency in Canada directly. I have the same rights as a citizen - except the right to vote. The process took nine months. That's lightning speed in any immigration system!
I find Canada to be a 'sane' place. I feel at peace here. If you're inland you will need to be reasonably comfortable with this concept known as "Winter", however. It gets cold on the prairies. Just saying.... 🙂 In Calgary we do get Chinook winds (which you probably know as Föhn winds), so it'll heat up for a week or two in the middle of winter and people will be in shorts and T-shirts. I find it pretty tolerable - and bright!! 300 days of sunshine - unlike Seattle with 300 days of rain. 🙂
I've never been to Australia but have heard good things from people who've studied there.
Anyway. If you'd like to get a European/North-American perspective or more detail about my experience, just toss me a PM. I'll be happy to set up a Skype call as well.
Tom
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If nothing this topic is wildly interesting to see people's stereotypes and what they freak out about, whether sensibly based or not. Not that I'm cheering on the US, but if I took the media at it's face value I'd assume that half of Western Europe's subways were getting blown up or run over by deranged truck drivers. I'd hope we know that's a ridiculous assessment.
UK folks acting high and mighty might want to remind yourselves that you've joined us Yanks in mass suicide by cigarettes and obesity. ;-)
PS I absolutely loved your country (UK) on a recent visit, so it's more a call to be sensible rather than sensational. Likewise enjoyed the parts of Canada I've visited, and hope to make good on a visit to the southern hemisphere soon.
PPS, the OP is ruling out a huge number of incredibly good engineering schools that exist throughout the US with preconceived notions. And you'll find that graduate students trend towards being a pretty liberal lot. There are plenty of excellent schools in other parts of the world, so I'm certainly not saying we're better than elsewhere (although definitely true we import more grad students than we export).
UK folks acting high and mighty might want to remind yourselves that you've joined us Yanks in mass suicide by cigarettes and obesity. ;-)
PS I absolutely loved your country (UK) on a recent visit, so it's more a call to be sensible rather than sensational. Likewise enjoyed the parts of Canada I've visited, and hope to make good on a visit to the southern hemisphere soon.
PPS, the OP is ruling out a huge number of incredibly good engineering schools that exist throughout the US with preconceived notions. And you'll find that graduate students trend towards being a pretty liberal lot. There are plenty of excellent schools in other parts of the world, so I'm certainly not saying we're better than elsewhere (although definitely true we import more grad students than we export).
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I am sorry to hear this. It will not make you feel better, but this is not uncommon. I don't do a lot of this, but I have already had one case this year that involved meth > five children, and it sure looks like I will have another where meth > three children. I have a grandparent, and the kids are on the trajectory to lose their rights, and probably get some time.
These are emotionally devastating cases for other family members, especially the innocent children, and they take a toll on practitioner's as well. Grandparents raising grandkids is pretty common around here because of this. People see me with my five year old and think he's my grandkid - nope, he's my kid ... The lucky little children are the ones that have fit grandparents or other family members. That is not always the case, sadly.
Win W5JAG
Try Slovakia here in europe, in FEM they pay you about 1000€ monthly (brutto).
Small "wohnung" cost you about 400€ monthly, for 250g butter imported from DE you pay about 3€ 😀
... health-care is realtively good in obsolete facilities (for more specialized you visit back germany as we do).
We have here a lot of german companies "on the slovak island" looking for german/english speaking employees so probably no problem to find job in mechanical industrie (your boss will be probably german speaking).
Our roads are suitable for SUV so you get a lot of fun here ... slovenske cesty - Hľadať Googlom
We have here similar weather as in DE. If you like more cold, you get to the north, for more sun to the south ...
Small "wohnung" cost you about 400€ monthly, for 250g butter imported from DE you pay about 3€ 😀
... health-care is realtively good in obsolete facilities (for more specialized you visit back germany as we do).
We have here a lot of german companies "on the slovak island" looking for german/english speaking employees so probably no problem to find job in mechanical industrie (your boss will be probably german speaking).
Our roads are suitable for SUV so you get a lot of fun here ... slovenske cesty - Hľadať Googlom
We have here similar weather as in DE. If you like more cold, you get to the north, for more sun to the south ...
New England in general and the Boston area in particular seems to popular with European immigrants and expats. We have great engineering schools, are for the most part politically and socially liberal. Crime by and large is low. (there are exceptions) We have a culture that is somewhat distinct from that of the rest of the country. (No one anywhere I have traveled has had much trouble figuring out where I am from.)
We have a great need in this area for skilled engineers and scientists of all sorts. I'm constantly being contacted by people looking for skilled engineers, scientists, etc.
We have major drug companies, medical/heath care r&d and manufacturing, general high tech, environmental engineering, bio-engineering, electronics, aviation, and research institutions in hard sciences and medicine. We also have some of the best healthcare institutions in the country.
We have a great need in this area for skilled engineers and scientists of all sorts. I'm constantly being contacted by people looking for skilled engineers, scientists, etc.
We have major drug companies, medical/heath care r&d and manufacturing, general high tech, environmental engineering, bio-engineering, electronics, aviation, and research institutions in hard sciences and medicine. We also have some of the best healthcare institutions in the country.
Whilst I won't disagree here, I'll say with a lot of experience (and that shared by my colleagues) that it's true with an asterisk.
* Ph.D programs are paid. Their stipend is oftentimes at or below the true cost of living, and I think it's a legal requirement that healthcare is provided (but that may have been state law vs. national so do check with the schools of interest). More often than not you will be expected to TA a substantial portion of your time, as your professor is probably broke. You get preference for TA positions over MS students.
MS programs do not necessarily come with that guarantee, but, depending on the school you can get a TA positions. Having a research assistantship as a MS student is pretty much like finding a unicorn.
I don't know why you keep belabouring this. He isn't planning to come as a student in the sense you mean. He is well into the masters and plans to submit his thesis at the university he is enrolled at. He somehow got the idea that a company would sponsor him to write his thesis abroad.
FWIW in Canada you can get paid. For example for my M Eng I had both teaching and research assistantships, but that is moot for the OP.
FWIW in Canada you can get paid. For example for my M Eng I had both teaching and research assistantships, but that is moot for the OP.
Hi @all 🙂
The thesis isn't actually the problem, working there after I get it would (have been) nice though 🙂
In regard to your edit: I am basically every working day at the university or at my intern job, so there isn't a lot of time to fact check. But I would have done/will do that at the weekend. But since there was no uproar (at first) following his statement I thought it was at least somewhat realistic, but thank you for setting that straight 🙂
When I have got more time at the weekend, I will definitely take a closer look at Canada's immigration policies.
I am very grateful for all your help
@tomchr: Thx. for the skype offer, maybe I will take you up on it soon
The thesis isn't actually the problem, working there after I get it would (have been) nice though 🙂
In regard to your edit: I am basically every working day at the university or at my intern job, so there isn't a lot of time to fact check. But I would have done/will do that at the weekend. But since there was no uproar (at first) following his statement I thought it was at least somewhat realistic, but thank you for setting that straight 🙂
That may be...but if it still is expensive it won't help 😉kevinkr said:
When I have got more time at the weekend, I will definitely take a closer look at Canada's immigration policies.
I am very grateful for all your help
@tomchr: Thx. for the skype offer, maybe I will take you up on it soon
Well not just somehow. It is so common here, that it never occurred to me, that it may be different elsewhere 🙂
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Still useful for others who may also be reading this. And, frankly I've heard this kind of language used from Europeans (just to write one's thesis) due to the difference in how MS/PhD programs operate in Europe vs. US/Canada (not sure about Aus), so I was assuming he'd be coming for a full MS.
I also had research assistantship for a MS, but that was a number of years ago (pre-recession) and they haven't come back at all. I finished my Ph.D a year ago and although I was essentially promised full RA throughout, I TA'ed for 5 years.
Yes, it's very different here. For example, I am just finishing up my MBA, and it's a bit of a challenge to even find a company that will allow you to do your MBA capstone project for them for FREE. That might be specific to Calgary, as the oil industry is just so backward.
True that I don't know for sure what's going on currently at Canadian universities for TA's and RA's. I remember that just as I was finishing my MEng and jobs crashed as the original Canada-US FTA was ratified, students were applying to do MEng's without RA's, which was previously unheard of.
Here the thing is that it does not make sense for criminals to use guns.
If you mug somebody on the street and get caught you probably get probation and community service for a first offence, a couple of years at most if you got previous.
You mug somebody using a gun and get caught you get the appropriate sentence plus a minimum of 5 years but likely more.
You get the same mandatory 5 years for being simply in possession of a gun.
Last year a couple of gun smugglers were caught and are now serving 14 and 27 years respectively.
Then there is the issue of non-existent ammo, this too has to be smuggled in.
Please don't delve into gun politics. Someone is asking for help. Don't force a mod to come in here and sanitize things and thus hurt the OP.
I agree, my sister lives in Chicago and I have never had a problem taking my family there. This problem is sad and far larger than a few downloadable maps with narrow statistics, nothing good can come of discussing this here.
Yes, I believe the points have been made and although important overall, I believe they have been covered well enough for the OP, so let's stick to helping him decide without the politics and social conjecture.
Thank you.,
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