what to do about crime

Do tougher laws help the crime situation? Does gun control help? What of the death penalty?
http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20060826-101822-1650r.htm

>>10 What do you want me to do? Apply everything I write to your parameters? Grow a beard (check)? Stop liking particular people because they are admirable and mess with shitty fast-food retailers who are a stain on capitalism? That aint streetwise, that's fucking patriotism.