keith: according to the link posted above, northern new england, including maine, vermont and nh have the lowest violent crime rates in the country, along with nd. I don't know why. maybe its the cold weather? maybe it is the relatively low rates of poverty that we experience? maybe it is the minimum of densely populated areas? what else could it be? I am glad I do not live in md, sc of fl, which are the states with the highest violent crime rates in the country.

keep it simple and keep it safe...