Years later, repeat felons got tired of being identified by their victims, and getting increasingly longer repeat prison terms, so...They began killing their victims so nobody could identify them. Most states don't actively enforce the duly voted-in death penalty. They would just be going to prison anyway if they were caught, so why not kill witnesses? (law of un-intended consequences?)

I lived in Los Angeles during the LA riots. I worked at McDonnel Douglas in North Long Beach (I also lived at 804 N Thorsen in Compton in 1964). During the riots, the police were so overwhelmed, they stopped responding to 911 calls. Criminals committed  many crimes knowing that the police would not answer the phone.

Police Chief Gates issued an unconstitutional moratorium in Los Angeles County on gun pick-ups and ammunition sales.  Citizens who had already paid and waited their 3 weeks could not pick up the guns the law said they should be allowed to. Thousands flocked to Orange County down the 5 freeway to B&B gun warehouse to buy ammunition for guns they already had for their defense.

After hurricane Andrew in Florida, police were unable to contain roving packs of looters for a week (National Guard arrived, curfew). One homeowner was able to repel them by merely brandishing a .22, that was all it took.

After I saw what Gates did, I bought a 12-Ga pump shotgun (with shoulder strap) that would accept 3" shells in addition to the standard 2-7/8"-ers. Also a .357 pistol, and later a cheap Chinese SKS semi-auto army rifle.

Other than the standard items often cited (water, canned food, etc) I would also recommend anti-biotics and pain-killers (broken leg/hospital swamped, etc)

Another country to add to the list might be Costa Rica, I've heard good things.