U.S. is more lethal than violent

The U.S. assault rate is somewhat below average, and it has a sexual assault rate of about twice the mean (but not the highest) among OECD countries.  But, only Mexico and Estonia have higher murder rates, with the U.S. at more than twice the mean.  The U.S. is on the right track, with its murder rate having fallen about 50% from the peak during my lifetime.  But, one key distinction between the U.S. and its peers is likely lax gun regulation.