The U.S. is the most homicidal affulent nation in the world.

Dr. Randolph Roth will be the guest lecturer at the 44th annual Wayne N. Aspinall Foundation Guest Lecture at 7 p.m. April 5 in the University Center Ballroom. Admission is free. Students and the public are welcome to attend.

Roth’s presentation, “Why is the United States by Far the Most Homicidal Affluent Nation in the World?” will focus on the history of violence from the 19th century to the present. The different types of homicides, why America’s homicide rate is so high and what can cause the homicide rate to increase are topics that will also be addressed.

“For some reason, people are fascinated by violence,” History professor and Aspinall Foundation member Steven Schulte said. “When I talk about people like Wyatt Earp and Billy the Kid, the ears of my students perk up.”

Dr. Roth said that homicide rates increase when people feel like they can’t relate to the citizens around them or the government isn’t representing their beliefs.

“If an individual feels secure in his social standing, it’s easier to get over life’s disappointments,” Dr. Roth said. “But for a person who feels like the American Dream is unattainable, the smallest offense may set off a murderous rage.”

Roth is a history and sociology professor at Ohio State University. He has received several honors, including the 2011 Michael J. Hindelang Award of the American Society of Criminology for the outstanding contribution to criminology over the previous three years and the 2010 Allan Sharlin Memorial Award of the Social Science History Association for his latest book, “American Homicide.”

The Aspinall Foundation is nonprofit organization that was founded to honor the legacy of former Colorado congressman and Palisade resident Wayne N. Aspinall. The foundation assists individuals who plan to start a public service career. The foundation has sponsored lectures and three-week accredited courses about history or political science each year since 1968. It also awards various scholarships to distinguished social and behavioral science majors In the last year, $23,000 dollars in scholarships were awarded.

To find out more about the Aspinall Foundation or this year’s lecture, contact Dr. Schulte at 248-1418.