Police in Shanghai have detained 10 suspects in the fatal clash between two gangs that left two dead on Friday, local authorities said Saturday.

An argument over debt dispute between two gangs became violent and shots were fired Friday noon at the entrance of Huilihuayuan Residence on Changshou Road, Putuo District, police said. [Xinhua]

Yet another reason to stay in Beijing.

The gap between China and the West continues to narrow, and not in a good way. We already have the traffic and pollution here, now we have gang activity. Shanghai gets more and more like LA as the years go on, although now that it appears California is sliding into bankruptcy, Shanghai is still preferable.

One wonders what the crime/murder rate would be like if China adopted the gun laws of, say, the state of Virginia. Folks are very conscious of security here, so I would probably be writing this from an undisclosed underground concrete bunker with a submachine gun nest on top.

Also, taking public transportation would be even more challenging — instead of having that old woman shoving her elbow in your back to urge you off the bus quicker, she might just choose to pop a cap in your ass. That would keep things lively.

And the wannabe suicide bridge jumper guy in Guangzhou? With a bunch of guns floating around the city, that situation would have been resolved much more quickly and efficiently.

This requires further thought.