Our View: FBI reports less crime despite more firearms

Daily Telegram
Posted Oct 14, 2011 @ 01:24 PM


ADRIAN, Mich. —
Despite dire predictions that striking down gun control laws and
legally allowing individuals to exercise their Second Amendment rights
would lead to more gun violence, just the opposite is happening,
according to recently announced FBI statistics.

The statistics show that violent crime actually fell six percent in 2010.
Rates are less than half of what they were 20 years ago for murder
and non-negligent manslaughter (4.8 per 100,000 population),
the lowest since 1963.

That may be surprising given increases in poverty levels, firearm purchases
and the number of people now licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

In fact, two of the three states with the highest murder levels — California
and New York — also have the most severely restrictive gun laws,
denying virtually all citizens the right to concealed carry to protect themselves.

Rather than follow the successful trend in other states, California
Gov. Jerry Brown recently signed two more gun control laws — one
requiring long gun sales to be registered, and another prohibiting
law-abiding citizens from openly carrying a firearm. Both laws will
restrict ordinary citizens; neither is likely to deter criminals.

It’s difficult to prove cause and effect. Still, as concealed carry laws
have grown throughout the U.S., this was the fourth straight year
that violent crime has dropped. Americans should look at the FBI
statistics as strong evidence that increasing Americans’ freedom
to defend themselves doesn’t increase violence. If anything, more
individual freedom has been accompanied by less crime.

[All emfasis has been added by David.]




David