Crime rates, like politics, are all local
The Wall Street Journal’s political correspondent Gerald Seib writes today that this presidential campaign cycle resembles 1968, with Trump filling the George Wallace role and Bernie Sanders the Gene McCarthy role. Maybe, but one parallel he left out is the crime rate, which was a central issue in 1968, and which may well be by election day next year.
Have you noticed that crime is “unexpectedly” rising fast after two decades of significant decline? Is it a coincidence that crime rates are rising especially where local police have come under the most criticism [Hello!], such as Baltimore?
It's obvious that, from time to time the shallow end of the gene pool gets to roiling like an ol' mud hole full of carp. But, is the "crime rate" going up, or down at the present time?
It depends on where you are.
If you look at figures coming from some places, you would conclude that law and order has completely broken down. For example, the scorekeeper's at http://heyjackass.com paint a bleak picture of Chicago — where the outlaws who keep and bear arms prevail. On the other hand, places where law-abiding citizens who keep and bear arms prevail, remain relatively peaceful. Did you pick up on the not-so-subtle difference between the two places?
For anyone interested in crime rate studies, especially those involving firearms, you can get the data at the Crime Prevention Research Center.
/fl