Gun Control & 2nd Amendment

I guess the key question is - what are the reasons why the US homicide rate is so high relative to other countries? Instead of arguing for or against guns on principle, that's the question that needs answering, and the root causes fixing.As an outsider (a UK person) it's clear the US discussion about guns touches a deep cultural nerve, one that doesn't exist here. It's tied up with the question of individual freedom in a way that isn't the case in the UK.