Florida Crime Rate Drops

In a conversation I remember having with Xel on these boards a while ago, he asked me something like if I knew of any statistics or corollations relating to Castle Doctrine, or similar type self-defense legislation.  Recently in an email I got from the NRA, I read the following: 

"When queried this week about his state's declining crime rate, Florida Governor Jeb Bush (R) told reporters from the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, "Law abiding citizens that have guns for protection actually probably are part of the reason we have a lower crime rate."

Florida is one of 40 states with Right-to-Carry statutes that allow their law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense.  In addition, the state last year passed NRA-backed "Castle Doctrine" legislation that allows citizens to "stand their ground" and defend themselves against an attacker in a place where they have a legal right to be.

Florida's crime rate dropped for the 14th straight year and the crime rate is currently at its lowest level since 1971."


It's probly not the most shining example, but this just came to mind.  Another something to consider, is that the crime rate is so low in that state, even in light of the sunsetting of the assault weapons ban.  The crime rate, last I checked, was down 3.6 percent overall in light of it's removal, and was at an all time low at that time thereafter.

>>1
 A nail in the coffin for anti-gun legislation. Still, America's crime rate is a bit too high for comfort but strangely enough that isn't the fault of guns. This is discrediting to the left but there is more than just the gun issue to take into consideration regarding America's socio-cultural situation. Thanks a lot, this is the type of info sharing that this board should consist of.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/inbeltway.htm

>>2
If you stuff thousands of totally different people in area size of New York City there's bound to be lots of crime. Diversity(which is good thing too) is one reason for high crime rates. That can't be fixed. Another(and very big) reason is ofcourse poverty. Fixing that might be possible, but it's going to be very hard or impossible to do without being tax heavy.

>>4
Has a point.  In many rural and very pro-gun areas of the United States that have a high number of firearms owners, the crime rate is lower than it is in big pro-gun control cities. 

>>4 >>5 Diversity is not an automatical cause of violence. It is a very painful Clause 22 acting here; In order to dismantle the segregation, cultural stereotypes, victimization and relationship between ethnic differences and judicial/economic inequality, people of different colors need to interact on a daily basis and realize that cosmetic/lingual differences don't matter that much. However, in order to reach such a society, we need to overcome segregation, cultural stereotypes, victimization and the relationship between ethnic differences and judicial/economic inequality. My real concern is that neither the left nor the right are ready for this undertaking, and I still don't know if the libertarian solution will heal these problems. My money is on them though.  

>>6
sucks

>>2
Xel, I seriously think you should come to the USA, and just live here a few months.  The crime rate is really not that high. 

Something to keep in mind... when you hear someone say we have xxxxxxx crimes in the usa per year, keep in mind that the USA has 300,000,000 people (or thereabouts).  So any number they give you should be compared with that for a percentage, to see what percentage of the population is actually affected.  In many cases, like children who died to gun deaths (i forget what it is, maybe 3,000) is LESS than one percent of the population. 

But, if you look at the number at face value, it would make many people say:  'zomg , we must ban guns!', and is very likely much of the reason why we made these dumb "no guns within two miles of a school" type laws.  Of course, try walking through many rural towns with a concealed weapon and NOT being within two miles of a school... lol.  Heck, just driving by in your car, and you'd be breaking the law. 

>>8 That is a big understatement.

>>8 Sure, I realize that. It would be swell with comparisons with other countries. I dunno, so I'm still neutral on the issue.

I blame the mexicans, time to shut the border and ban immigration, we are coming to the time when oil will get very expensive so we might aswell take measures to prevent overpopulation.

What about the poor mexicans? Well they wouldn't be poor if they overthrew their government and implemented a libertarian democracy and not a totalitarian socialism. Any illegal immigrants in USA borders will be given full citizen's rights, simply no more will be allowed to pass.

>>11
Good idea.