There are many more reasons than I would mention here but to discuss the most likely and widespread causes may be of use. Of the possibilities we have: Improved law enforcement. Increased fear of the police. Rise in social consciousness. Increased gun ownership. Apathy. Increase in overall empathy for others. Other Some combination of reasons. No one knows.
I think the biggest factor is that more law abiding people are able to carry guns. It's a deterrent to criminals, who now worry that their "victim" may kill them. CHL holders have proven to be many times more law abiding than the average citizen. Laws have been adjusted and clarified to justify self defense. Castle doctrine laws and stand your ground laws have made it easier to defend against violent crime without being bankrupted in the courts. Law enforcement has improved. The internet and computer data bases make us all more productive. This and surveillance camera proliferation has done this for law enforcement. I'm not endorsing public cameras to watch and track every person in America. I'm talking about camera footage from crime victims and their neighbors being used to identify and capture criminals.
Here is a little tidbit.... The U.S. homicide rate declined by nearly half (49%), from 9.3 homicides per 100,000 U.S. residents in 1992 to 4.7 in 2011, falling to the lowest level since 1963. From 2002 to 2011, the average homicide rate for males was 3.6 times higher than the rate for females. The average homicide rate for blacks was 6.3 times higher than the rate for whites. From 2002 to 2011, young adults ages 18 to 24 had the highest homicide rate of any age group and experienced the greatest rate decline (down 22%) over the 10-year period, from 15.2 per 100,000 in 2002 to 11.9 in 2011. The rate of homicides involving a fiearm decreased by 49% from 1992 to 2011, while the percentage of homicide victims killed by a fiearm (67%) remained stable. Large cities of 100,000 or more residents experienced the largest decline (23%) in homicide rates from 2002 to 2011, compared to communities with less than 100,000 residents . From 2002 to 2011, the majority (95%) of homicide incidents involved a single victim. In 2011, 66% of homicides with a single victim involved a fiearm, compared to 79% of homicide incidents with multiple victims
None of which serves to explain why the number of crimes occurring has dropped. Is it due to more offenders being incarcerated, and unable to commit crimes? Fewer offenders in the general public because so many have been justifiably killed by their intended victims? Age of the offender increasing out of their prime of their life territory?
I was just putting some facts out there. I can only speculate why they are what they are....I think the high levels of incarceration could be a factor.
Crooks are cowards and the chance that their next victim could be armed scares them into finding easier prey.
true but here are some other factors the crack wars of the 1990s killed off lots of people who would still be mopes if they were above ground the infamous three strikes sentences imposed long draconian sentences on many young black males who tend to be engaged in criminal activity through their forties if they are criminals at 20 and those people are all doing sentences that still have them in prison abortion to some extent. people being armed and more importantly, news stories about people packing firearms
Recently, I have found that when I'm confronted by a hot headed young wacko, it's enough to just ask: "and what will you be bringing to this gunfight?"
