The “experts” expected an increase in violent crimes with the poor state of the economy. What they found was quite the opposite:
The number of violent crimes fell by a surprising 12 percent in the U.S. last year, a far bigger drop than the nation has been averaging since 2001, the Justice Department said.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported there were 3.8 million violent crimes last year, down from 4.3 million in 2009.
Experts aren’t sure why.
That really is bizarre. I wonder what could be behind the incredible decrease in violent crime…
Gun owners are packing heat in record numbers, fearful of stricter gun control under the Obama administration and higher crime in a sour economy.
Some states and counties report a surge in applications for concealed weapons permits since the November election. All states but Illinois and Wisconsin allow concealed weapons, but requirements differ.
Applications already have hit a record this year in Clay County, Mo., where the sheriff’s office received 888 through June, compared with 863 in all of last year, says Sheriff Bob Boydston. The office recently hired two part-time workers to deal with the rush.
Also, this:
Johnson is about to become one of the millions of Americans who are permitted to carry a concealed weapon, having completed a course with Utah Legal Heat, a company that offers concealed weapons instruction — one of many options that meets the requirement for proof of firearms training for the application process. He said he’s never been threatened directly, but he also wants the option of defending himself.
“I pray that I never use (a gun),” he said, “but I want to be prepared.”
Figures indicate that more Americans like Johnson are seeking permission to carry concealed weapons — including both firearms and knives — at all times. In Idaho alone, there are currently 71,249 valid permits. Neighboring Utah has reported 246,831 valid permits as of June 30 and has seen its number of valid permits rise 458.8 percent since 2001, when 44,173 permits were reported.
And, this:
Florida had 813,127 active permit holders as of the end of April. Since May 31, 2010 when there were 729,000 permits, there has been about a 12 percent increase in permit holders. In Texas, from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2010, there was an increase from 402,914 to 461,724 permits, a 15 percent increase. On December 31, 2008, there were 314,574 permits, showing a 28 percent increase from 2008 to 2009.
Add Florida, Pennsylvania, and Washington state together and those three states account for almost 2 million permit holders by themselves.
There’s plenty of articles I can pull quotes from, but that all would say the same thing. More and more Americans are carrying a concealed weapon.
Yet the occurrence of violent crime dropped 12%.
Unexpected?
Hardly.
While correlation does not equal causation, there is evidence to show the rise in guns has impacted the frequency of crime:
“This is just the type of thing that was predicted,” economist John R. Lott told HUMAN EVENTS. Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime (Chicago University Press), pointed to research done eight years ago by David P. Mustard and published in Chicago University’s Journal of Law and Economics.
“States that enact concealed-carry laws are less likely to have a felonious police death and more likely to have lower rates of felonious police deaths after the law is passed,” Mustard concluded in his 2001 journal article.
More guns, less crime. In fact:
UPDATE:
Welcome Instapundit readers!
Have you seen this?
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politics/verbal-shots-fired-in-ruidoso-gunfight
Real Americans saying FU to attempts to restrict gun rights.
Love everything about that link. Thanks for adding it.
Dude. Your widgets are killing me. Slow, slow, slow every time I click through from the reader…
I’m really very sorry about the site speed. It’s something that Andrew and I have looked at and tried to improve. We really have.
The problem goes back to our server. Honestly, I don’t think we have that many widgets, but when you are sharing a crowded server, your site is slow.
It’s a monetary matter. I hope you understand.
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GeorgiaCarry.Org did an analysis of crime rates after gun control was implemented and repealed for 10 examples. Each time, crime rose when gun control was implemented. Crime decreased when gun control was repealed. You can see the report here: http://www.georgiacarry.com/research/GCO_-_Guns_Good_Bans_Bad.pdf
[...] SCIENCE CONUNDRUMS: Violent Crimes Drop 12%, Reason Unknown; In Other News, Record Number of Americans Carrying Conceale… [...]
Another major factor in the drop in violent crime of recent decades is almost certainly abortion. Millions of unwanted babies that never got born also means millions of criminals who were never born.
Love the stats on numbers of CHL holders by state. For it reputation as Mecca for gun worshipers, it’s interesting that Texas doesn’t have nearly as many permit holders as one might expect.
It’s easy to take the leap and assume a drop in “violent crimes” is directly related to “concealed carry”. However, the definition of “violent crimes” includes: aggravated assault, arson, assault and battery, domestic violence, hate crime…s, homicide, manslaughter, mayhem, murder, terrorism and theft/larceny. Statistics show that approximately one in four violent crime offenders use a firearm to carry out their crime. Therefore, it’s a stretch, without data, to assume that all of the types of crimes that are classified as “violent” are reduced because more people have guns.
I’m sure a criminal wouldn’t want to risk a misdemeanor for an illegal weapon added to their felony violent crime. More restrictions will really stop them, not disarm law abiding citizens….
Misdemeanor? Use of a firearm in the commission of a violent felony greatly increases the severity of the penalties. Even mere possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is, in and of itself, a felony. Many career criminals have stated in interviews that they don’t use a firearm for exactly that reason.
Read the article, Rick: “While *****correlation does not equal causation,***** there is evidence to show the rise in guns has impacted the frequency of crime:” So much for taking leap.
As for the rest of your comment: Are you saying criminals use guns? Stop the presses! Of course they do. The point of the article is that law-abiding citizens are evening up the odds and (coincidentally or not) crime rates are falling.
BTW, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report lists only four violent crimes (murder, forcible rape, assault & robbery).
It’s easy to take the leap and assume a drop in “violent crimes” is directly related to “concealed carry”. However, the definition of “violent crimes” includes: aggravated assault, arson, assault and battery, domestic violence, hate crime…s, homicide, manslaughter, mayhem, murder, terrorism and theft/larceny. Statistics show that approximately one in four violent crime offenders use a firearm to carry out their crime. Therefore, it’s a stretch, without data, to assume that all of the types of crimes that are classified as “violent” are reduced because more people have guns.
Most criminals are lazy and cowards if they think they are going to get killed they won’t commit the crime …is this true for all criminals …no…but apparently it is enough to make a difference…people want and even chance, God only knows obama isn’t giving them one….
How long before someone realizes the permit process is a waste of time and duplicitous. Dealers already have to do an instant background check. Any stats on how many applicants are refused a permit?
[...] Duane Lester: “While correlation does not equal causation, there is evidence to show the rise in guns has [...]
[...] and if people are concerned that carrying guns may well lead to gun violence: oddly sufficient, violent crime has gone down as firearms carry normally has gone up. Which really should shock no person, but apparently [...]
[...] and if people are worried that carrying guns might lead to gun violence: oddly enough, violent crime has gone down as firearms carry generally has gone up. Which should surprise nobody, but apparently still does. [...]
[...] and if people are worried that carrying guns might lead to gun violence: oddly enough, violent crime has gone down as firearms carry generally has gone up. Which should surprise nobody, but apparently still [...]