The problem I usually have with comparing the US with other countries, is size. England's population is roughly 66 million. America's population is 325 million. England's population is roughly California, and Texas in population. However, they still fall 1.3 million in population short of just two states out of 50, and do not even represent the other 48 states with an additional 259 million citizens in America.
So with almost 5 times the population, by stating that we have a violent crime rate somewhere around that of England, we have a vastly lower crime rate. Simply because we have 259 million more people, but almost the same amount of crime of only 66 million; which represents less than the population of only 2 of our states.
Let's take this into account. Take Englands current statistical data such as 1 in 5 murder for example, and plug in 5 times more people. Now how high has crime exploded in England?