After thinking about it for awhile, I realised something: if you look at the actual facts, violent crime in the USA has gone down in the last twenty years.
Sure, there are horrible crimes but factually, they are not more prevalent now than they were twenty years ago or even forty years ago. For instance, do you know when the worst school massacre took place? Answer: 18 May 1927 in Bath Township, Michigan.
I think part of the reason why crime seems more prevalent now is because information about crime is so much easier to find. With the internet, everything becomes magnified.
I also suspect that there is a certain amount of self serving news spreading that goes on. For instance, "safety" is a widely cited reason for equipping everyone (and their dog, no kidding) with cell phone/GPS technology. Well, is there anyone who might benefit from this? Sure, a few potential victims and a great big cellphone/GPS industry!
I try to live sensibly but not in fear.