Fewer New York Murders, and Even Fewer by Strangers

[hminsky]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/22/nyregion/22cnd-murder.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Fewer New York Murders, and Even Fewer by Strangers
By AL BAKER

New York City is on track to have fewer than 500 murders in 2007, by
far the lowest amount in a 12-month period since reliable Police
Department statistics became available in 1963. Skip to next
paragraph City Room Blog

City RoomThe latest news and reader discussions from around the five
boroughs and the region.

But within the city’s official crime statistics is a perhaps even more
striking figure: so far, with roughly half the killings analyzed, only
35 were found to be committed by strangers, a microscopic statistic in
a city of 8.5 million.

If that trend holds up, fewer than 100 murder victims in New York City
this year would not have known the assailants who took their
lives. The vast majority died in disputes with friends or
acquaintances, with rival drug crew members or — to a far lesser
degree — with boyfriends, girlfriends, parents and others.The low
number of stranger killings belies imagery of New Yorkers being
vulnerable to arbitrary attacks on the streets, or dying in robberies
or muggings that turned violent.

This seems like an amazing turnaround in the murder rate. Interestingly they do not mention gun control at all in the article.

 

[Garys]

They don't mention what last year's homicide rate was, so it's hard to know. They seem surprised that there are very few stranger murders, but it's been pretty well known for a long time that it's usually someone you know that kills you. Not necessarily family or friends, but someone that you've had some sort of dealings with in the past.

Gary

 

[hminsky]

They don't mention what last year's homicide rate was, so it's hard to know. They seem surprised that there are very few stranger murders, but it's been pretty well known for a long time that it's usually someone you know that kills you. Not necessarily family or friends, but someone that you've had some sort of dealings with in the past.

Gary

The article seemed to be speculating that when there were more gang shootings, more bystanders were being shot. I don't know if that's true or not. But the take away lesson seems to be that gangs and drug dealing are responsible for most of the murders, and people who have arrest records (for homicide!) are responsible for most of the murders.

The stupid thing is that for some unfathomable reason no politician dares suggest legalizing drugs. But there are all too many willing to push gun control, which addresses the symptom but not the cause of a lot of the violence.

 

[Garys]

The article seemed to be speculating that when there were more gang shootings, more bystanders were being shot. I don't know if that's true or not. But the take away lesson seems to be that gangs and drug dealing are responsible for most of the murders, and people who have arrest records (for homicide!) are responsible for most of the murders.

It's true on NYPD Blue and Law and Order, but probably less so in the real world. Certainly innocent bystanders do get shot, but it doesn't seem like a large number of victims.

The stupid thing is that for some unfathomable reason no politician dares suggest legalizing drugs. But there are all too many willing to push gun control, which addresses the symptom but not the cause of a lot of the violence.

Because it's not a popular stance, and we know that politicians have only one principle.

Gary

 

[Finalygotabeltfed]

Murderers and their victims are usually known to eachother.....nothing really new. I remember this being taught in a Texas police academy thirty years ago.

 

[News Shooter]

One thing I'm surprised at is that the Brady bunch hasn't exploited this given NYC's no carry policy. It would be easy for them to point to NYC as an example of how control works

 

[In_God_We_Trust]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/22/nyregion/22cnd-murder.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin



This seems like an amazing turnaround in the murder rate. Interestingly they do not mention gun control at all in the article.

It's an election year... Of course they will!
HOWEVER: I noted last night two other articles on the web, one stating that Chicago was having a lower than normal year and that the overall Violent Crime Rate in the US has dropped significantly. However, in searching for the articles now, I CANNOT FIND THEM.

Hence, in an election year, why not attribute the drop in crime, not to the Gun Laws, but to the overall drop in violent crime? Well, as this is an election year, and the ANTI Communists know the score, I am sure that is why those articles are now gone!

So, to place a good light back on ownership, the ANITs can put this in their proverbial pipe and smoke it!

25 years murder-free in 'Gun Town USA'
Crime rate plummeted after law required firearms for residents

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=55288

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennesaw,_Georgia

Gary Kleck, a criminologist and gun-control critic attributes a drop of 89% in the residential burglary rate to the law.[1] Kennesaw is often cited by advocates of gun ownership as evidence that gun ownership deters crime. (see, for instance, this 2004 sheet of talking points from the Gun Owners Foundation).

Current statistics indicate that Kennesaw's crime rate[4] is lower compared to surrounding cities like Marietta[5], Smyrna[6], Alpharetta[7], or Atlanta[8].