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Showing Original Post only (View all)We Are More Afraid Than Ever of Gun Violence, But the Truth Is the Murder Rate Is at a 50-Year Low [View all]
Some may even think that the more scared Americans get about gun violence, the more likely it is we’ll pass laws that will reduce it. Maybe, maybe not.
Now, about that data. As the image at the top of the post demonstrates, the U.S. murder rate is now lower than it has been in half a century. According to some measures, the current murder rate approaches the lowest levels seen in more than 100 years. Or maybe even ever.
As for mass shootings in the U.S.? James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University criminologist and co-author of Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder, has shown that the number of incidents — defined as any shooting in which four or more people died — has remained steady over recent decades, despite the doubling of the U.S. population since 1960. Regarding gun deaths as a whole, the data just about exactly parallels the overall U.S. homicide rate.
Additionally, Pew recently asked Americans whether the number of gun crimes has gone down, gone up, or stayed the same over the past 20 years. Bear in mind that the gun murder rate is half what it was, and the rate of non-fatal gun crimes is about a quarter of what it was 20 years ago. Only 12 percent said gun crimes were down, 26 percent said they were the same, and 56 percent said they’ve gone up.
Now, about that data. As the image at the top of the post demonstrates, the U.S. murder rate is now lower than it has been in half a century. According to some measures, the current murder rate approaches the lowest levels seen in more than 100 years. Or maybe even ever.
As for mass shootings in the U.S.? James Alan Fox, a Northeastern University criminologist and co-author of Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder, has shown that the number of incidents — defined as any shooting in which four or more people died — has remained steady over recent decades, despite the doubling of the U.S. population since 1960. Regarding gun deaths as a whole, the data just about exactly parallels the overall U.S. homicide rate.
Additionally, Pew recently asked Americans whether the number of gun crimes has gone down, gone up, or stayed the same over the past 20 years. Bear in mind that the gun murder rate is half what it was, and the rate of non-fatal gun crimes is about a quarter of what it was 20 years ago. Only 12 percent said gun crimes were down, 26 percent said they were the same, and 56 percent said they’ve gone up.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ian-reifowitz/we-are-more-afraid-than-e_b_8740750.html
Apologies in advance, as this article is about six months old.
I think it's interesting because the author points out that when Americans are led to believe violence is out of control, legislatures tend to react. Last time this phenomenon occurred, the result was prison policies that led to mass incarceration. Could gun controllers attempt to pad the "gun violence" numbers with suicides obstruct efforts at criminal justice reform? Food for thought.
Lastly, despite the proliferation of liberalized carry, violent crime is way down.
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We Are More Afraid Than Ever of Gun Violence, But the Truth Is the Murder Rate Is at a 50-Year Low [View all]
Kang Colby
May 2016
OP
Generally speaking, gun murders are 50% lower with many more guns in civilian circulation.
Kang Colby
May 2016
#2
No, but gun ownership would have made it more difficult...in my opinion. Lives would have been saved
Kang Colby
May 2016
#17
A few guns against the government is suicide...what lives would have been saved?
angstlessk
May 2016
#18
Tell that to the Viet Cong, Afghans, or dozens of other groups throughout history.
Kang Colby
May 2016
#22
Sadly, I'm unfamiliar with Howard Zinn. I might have to check out his books sometime.
Kang Colby
May 2016
#26
Yes, assume actions on the part of people who don't even exist, and we'll get somewhere.
beevul
May 2016
#53
"a bizarre obsession with guns" says more about you than it does anyone else. N/T
beevul
May 2016
#19
"Kinda so what?" How mediocre and unimaginative. We have big improvement, but...
Eleanors38
May 2016
#50
Respectfully, the causes of ALL crime and homicides should be studied more...
Eleanors38
May 2016
#49