No Explanation: Gun Deaths, Violent Crimes Are Down Overall In U.S.

Experts search for explanation to improving urban safety and quality of life

Chicago. Detroit. D.C. Newtown, Aurora, and Oak Creek. Gun violence dominated news headlines last year, but the nation’s homicide rate still plummeted. In fact, the narrative of a crime decline over the last two decades has been without much explanation. Law and order has seemingly been such a low concern for a majority of Americans that only 2 percent of them reported crime as a concerned in a 2012 Gallup poll. In D.C. and New York City, for instance, the homicide rates have fallen 80 percent and 75 percent respectively, over the last two decades. Of the many theories, the rise in the number of gun owned by Americans, population migrations from big cities, soaring prison populations, and even the legalization of abortion have been considered as the root of the declines. What do you think the cause is? Tell us in the comment section below. (Washington Post)

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