The Merits of North Dakota

The United States Peace Index reports the top ten most peaceful states according to the following criteria:

• Homicide Rates
• Population % in jail
• Availability of small arms
• Number of police officers
• Overall crime rate

..with the ten most peaceful states ranked in order as:
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Minnesota, North Dakota, Utah, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Iowa, & Washington

..and the ten least peaceful states ranked in order as:
Louisiana, Tennessee, Nevada, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, South Carolina, & Maryland

According to Forbes, North Dakota ranks as the 16th healthiest state in the U.S. in 2010 while Texas ranks as the 11th unhealthiest state in the U.S.

AND as of May 2009, North Dakota tied with Nebraska as the state with the lowest unemployment rate (4.4%) in the nation and had the nations fastest growing economic rate in 2008 (largely in agriculture, forestry, hunting, & fishing), according to CNN.

Clearly I'm pursuing the wrong field of work & living in the wrong state. I should move back to North Dakota, start training as a hunter gatherer, & live in peaceful, small arms-less bliss.