Almost everywhere in USA is safe. Even more so W. Europe. Need civilwar or live in place rules by warlords to be dangerous.

The chance of you suffering crime (unless u look for it like join gang) is vanishingly small. Media just constantly reports and massive amplifies fear generation on the most dramatic BS happening anywhere cause fear sells.

For instance more or almost the same number if people die by 2nd Hand Smoke as die if gunshots in USA. About half of gunshots deaths all self inflicted suicides. But every thinks there is some huge issue with gun violence. Wed save tens of thousands of lives every year outlawing smoking. But smoking isn't scary like "assault weapon". Doesn't sell ads and first get you reelected

you underestimate the power of marketing and societal mass self-delusion :) Just look around - there is no children and Ring cameras everywhere. 30 years ago the children were playing outside unsupervised.

I remember getting trapped by bullies inside a cone made of concrete at an industrial site along the railroad tracks 50 years ago. They were threatening to kill me and given the remoteness of the site and the fact that these kids often killed animals it was plausible. I climbed up, hung from the edge, and let myself fall, hurt my ankle, and then ran. Is that what you want for your kids?

I don’t get it, is that anecdotal experience supposed to provide guidance for all children?

I’ve been jumped several times in my life. And yes, I’d much prefer my child walks outside alone just like I still enjoy walking outside unsurveiled. The world sucks, I’ve yet to find the place were continuous surveillance makes that better.

YMMV, people have different views, I was never harmed beyond a two week long headache in any of my incidents, otherwise I just lost personal belongings like phones and wallets.