At 03:07 PM 7/10/98 -0400, Harvey Newstrom wrote:
>That chart shows all crimes including non-gun crimes. Total crimes are
>down, but the percent of violent crimes using guns is way up.
>
><http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/Crime_in_Brief/murder.asp>
>shows per-capita murders down between 1990-1995, but gun murders up from
>62.9% to 66.7%.
>
><http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/Crime_in_Brief/robbery.asp>
>shows per-capita robberies way down between 1990-1995, but gun robberies
>up from 37.6% to 38.9%.
This seems what one would expect: more guns in the hands of the public makes non-gun murders and robberies more problematical, so there are fewer of them, while the determined murderers and robbers are forced to start using guns. On the whole, it seems to result in a net gain in public safety....
-Bradley Felton zim@pobox.com