I would say, based on experiences abroad, the US falls in the middle of things. While I live in a rural area, I used to live just 90 miles north of Marko's location ... Milwaukee, WI. There were portions of the city I would not willingly go into without an APC. Even the suburb I lived in had some violence, many due to petty crime in the area, and some gang related activity. Some of the safest areas in the country, ironically, are some of the most heavily armed communities I've seen outside of a military base.
However, It is my opinion that violent crime happens every where; In the US, it will usually involve guns. In the UK (and Domionions), it will probably be more personal, involving fists, knives, etc. Go into the Middle East region, it gets worse. The more spectacular it gets, the more likely it will get mass media coverage.
The last war the US had on it's on soil was the Civil War in the 1860's. I think Sweden's memories of modern warfare are a little more recent. But the Swedes and the Danes were quite agressive early on...
Anyway...
My favorite character is my first maga, a very old school fire-ball tossing flambeau. However, she has never killed in anger, only in defense - not of herself, but of others who were clearly overmatched. Being Christian, she regularly goes to confession, though there has been some difficulty with the local clergy. So, a small village priest handles it. Has she agonized over it? No. She's charged with the military reality of running a castle in a near indefensible location (a castle in the middle of the wood...what were we thinking???). Good thing it's a remote location.
My point (badly made) is that I can't remember how many people have met their demise at her hands, personally - but less than a handful.
Our grogs and companions, on the other hand, are another story...
Steve