NationStates Jolt Archive

Violent crime continues to go down. Murders go down. (BTW, we're almost 65 percent below what we were in the mid-1990s).

As for you non-Americans who have this idea that somehow, the US is a modern version of the wild west movies, and that we all carry on like the looters in New Orleans, here's a bit of news:

From the Washington Post

Murders across the United States fell for the first time in five years, while rapes increased slightly last year, the FBI reported Monday.

Overall, the number of violent crimes, which also include aggravated assaults and robberies, fell by 1.2 percent last year. Property crimes _ burglaries, larceny/theft and car theft _ dropped 1.1 percent in 2004, compared to 2003.

There were 16,137 murders in the United States in 2004, the last full year for which statistics are available. That was about 350 fewer than in 2003, according to the FBI data. The decrease is the first since 1999, although smaller than what the FBI reported in June. Chicago was largely responsible for the drop, recording 150 fewer murders in 2004 than in 2003.

The number of rapes, however, has increased in three of the past four years, according to the FBI data. In all, rapes increased by .8 percent to 94,635 rapes, or about 750 more than in 2003.

Rapes are up nearly 5 percent since 2000, while murders have increased by 3.5 percent, FBI data show.

At the same time, the rates of all violent crimes, measured as the number of crimes for every 100,000 people, have dropped over that same period. Indeed, the crime rate is at a 30-year low, government data have shown.

Nobody's going to pay attention to this. No bodies makes for a boring news story.

Crime is going down as a result of natural cycles, you alarmist cad!

Crime is going down as a result of natural cycles, you alarmist cad!
Only if by natural cycles you mean greater access to abortion and birth control in the past two decades.

Only if by natural cycles you mean greater access to abortion and birth control in the past two decades.

That is exactly what I meant, thank you.

As for you non-Americans who have this idea that somehow, the US is a modern version of the wild west movies, and that we all carry on like the looters in New Orleans
Who said that?

Who said that?

Probably some US pundit who likes to think that non-USians think things they don't think.

Probably some US pundit who likes to think that non-USians think things they don't think.

Actually, the "Wild West" accusations are made regularly in these threads. Mostly(but not exclusively) by non-USians.

Actually, the "Wild West" accusations are made regularly in these threads. Mostly(but not exclusively) by non-USians.

Wild West accusations also happen in natural cycles.

Wild West accusations also happen in natural cycles.
Only if by natural cycles you mean when trolls are able to post again after being banned for a week or so.

Wild West accusations also happen in natural cycles.

As does flatulance.

Now if we can just repeal poor people and liberals, there'd be no crime at all. Just a bunch of politely armed and happy people.

Now if we can just repeal poor people and liberals, there'd be no crime at all. Just a bunch of politely armed and happy people.
I'll repeal you ya dirty conservative fatcat.

I'll repeal you ya dirty conservative fatcat.

Repeal deleted Drunk commies!!

Probably some US pundit who likes to think that non-USians think things they don't think.
I wouldn't put it past Sean Hannity.

Repeal deleted Drunk commies!!
You'll need a hefty majority to repeal me, tough guy!

You'll need a hefty majority to repeal me, tough guy!

Nope, just 5 people in black robes. All I have to say is I can provide more income by taxes by using your cyberspace.;)

Nope, just 5 people in black robes. All I have to say is I can provide more income by taxes by using your cyberspace.;)
Damn, I think you've got me there.

Actually, the "Wild West" accusations are made regularly in these threads. Mostly(but not exclusively) by non-USians.
Do you have any examples? Or are you just assuming that's the sort of thing decadent European liberals who don't like guns might possibly say, and so somebody must have said here?

I'll repeal you ya dirty conservative fatcat.

By "dirty conservative fatcat" you mean hard working, tax paying, unsympathetic, white male? Yup, you got me pegged.

By "dirty conservative fatcat" you mean hard working, tax paying, unsympathetic, white male? Yup, you got me pegged.
Other than unsympathetic I fit that description too, so clearly I wouldn't hold that stuff against you. The unsympathetic part is what bothers me.

Do you have any examples? Or are you just assuming that's the sort of thing decadent European liberals who don't like guns might possibly say, and so somebody must have said here?

No, I'm not going to provide "Examples" because I'm not out to start a flame war by naming names. I'm also not making any "assumptions" or pidgeon-holing people into classes such as "decadent European liberals who don't like guns ".

The belief in the myth of the lawlessness of the "Wild West" is common and is regularly used.

Crime went dramatically on the rise after the extinction of the Dodo in the late 17th century.

Crime went dramatically on the rise after the extinction of the Dodo in the late 17th century.
And global warming seems to be inversely linked to the number of living pirates.

And global warming seems to be inversely linked to the number of living pirates.

Exactly. His Noodly Appendage has obviously blessed you with reason.

Exactly. His Noodly Appendage has obviously blessed you with reason.

And don't forget the demise of ninjas. Crime rates plummeted once they disappeared.... its all down to pirates and ninjas again... tsk tsk *shakes head*

Now if we can just repeal poor people and liberals, there'd be no crime at all. Just a bunch of politely armed and happy people.
Sort of. All that needs to happen is for more poor people to have abortions, and for more sane people to have guns.

I think more insane people should have guns . Life would be way more interesting . May the noodly appendage stop slapping upside my head .
I used Ragu once now the FSM hates me .

Crime is going down as a result of natural cycles, you alarmist cad!

The "natural cycle" is more states passing gun carry laws. :eek:

Wild West accusations also happen in natural cycles.

Only because more states are passing gun carry laws and giving us back our Constitutional right. :eek:

Crime went dramatically on the rise after the extinction of the Dodo in the late 17th century.

The Dodo is not extinct, it is alive and well in the liberal left. :D

Crime went dramatically on the rise after the extinction of the Dodo in the late 17th century.

1690, to be percise. I read that in my English AP book today. Why in gods name was it in there? Who knows.

The Dodo is not extinct, it is alive and well in the liberal left. :D

Yay, broad, baselss accusations for no reason. Good way to alienate liberals who agree with repealing gun control, etc.

What assault weapons ban? The one passed in 1994 expired. Now it's time to repeal import bans.

Yay, broad, baselss accusations for no reason. Good way to alienate liberals who agree with repealing gun control, etc.

Sarcasm. You missed the obligatory :D