Calling a sharp drop in overall violence throughout America's most populous city "one for the record books," New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced this week that 2009 saw historic crime-rate declines across the city's five boroughs.The declines occurred in nearly every crime category, including the "lowest number of murders ever," Bloomberg said Monday.
According to the mayor's office, there have been 461 homicides to date on Monday in 2009. That number is down nearly 11 percent from the same time a year ago, with 516 murders recorded in 2008. Bloomberg said 2009 is on track to have the fewest murders in New York City's history since reliable recordkeeping began in 1963.
This is certainly a wonderful achievement, one which derives from several factors.
The mayor said the drop in New York's crime rate can be attributed to a combination of using new technologies and strong management, using statistics in police planning and responses, adequately funding the department and focusing resources to address problem areas.
Along with stringent gun laws, regulations and enforcement mechanisms, the combination of all these strategies "have helped to substantially reduce the level of violence on our streets," Bloomberg said.
"Along with stringent gun laws," is the way Bloomberg puts it. The gun bloggers on the other hand seem to think it has only to do with improved policing techniques and general trends.
What's your opinion? Do the strict gun laws in New York contribute to the decreasing violence? If some of the "feeder" states had similar restrictions and the ciminal importing of weapons were curtailed, do you think the crime rate in NYC would go even lower?
What's your opinion? Please leave a comment.
"The gun bloggers on the other hand seem to think it has only to do with improved policing techniques and general trends."
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what is happening. He is enforcing laws that are already on the books. And miracle of miracles, crime goes down. Who would have thunk it? Now if criminals would actually serve out their entire sentences, we might really be on to something.
If NYC had few gun laws when murders were at their high, and has "stringent" gun laws when murders are at their low...
ReplyDeleteBut NYC ALSO had "stringent" gun laws when murders were at their high, so...?
"That's exactly what is happening. He is enforcing laws that are already on the books. "
ReplyDeleteActually, no.
There are new gun regulations which monitor FFLs and crack down on the crooked ones.
BTW, the NRA opposed this tooth and nail.
--JadeGold
And yet,in the late 1920's when any 12 year old with 17 felony convictions could walk into a hardware store and buy a full-auto Tommy gun with no paperwork and no questions asked, NYC's crime numbers were lower.
ReplyDeleteGo figure.
Kavey just makes up facts as he goes along.
ReplyDelete"And yet,in the late 1920's when any 12 year old with 17 felony convictions could walk into a hardware store and buy a full-auto Tommy gun with no paperwork and no questions asked, NYC's crime numbers were lower."
Whenever I see a Kavey comment--it's like Sudoku to me. How many errors, lies, and misrepresentations can I find?
Let's see; the Sullivan Act was enacted in 1911 in NY state which made it a crime to possess or carry firearms without a license.
The Tommy Gun was unavailable through US retailers in the late 1920s, so the hardware store wouldn't be selling them. The military and some law enforcement agencies procured them; additionally, they were smuggled into the US by various Irish criminal gangs.
A 12 yo couldn't purchase any gun--let alone a Tommy gun.
A 12 yo with 17 felony convictions in the late 1920s wouldn't be walking around free in those days. In point of fact, merely being labelled "delinquent" in those days--let alone convicted of 17 felonies--meant state reformatory.
Were NYC's crime numbers lower? Since reliable stats weren't compiled until 1963, Kavey's claim is unsubstantiated.
It's amazing.
--JadeGold
Gun laws have nothing to do with it, since NYC hasn't made any significant changes to its gun laws in recent years. The gun laws were the same back when murders were high as they are today.
ReplyDeleteThere are new gun regulations which monitor FFLs and crack down on the crooked ones.
Nope. They may be cracking down on FFL's but that's through enforcement of existing regulations not passage of new ones.
JadeGold:
ReplyDeleteOne of the great bulwarks of truthiness that 2A types rely on is the canard that big cities with stringent gun laws have more crime than other big cities with lax or non-existent gun laws.
Somehow or other, factors such as poverty, overcrowding and despair never seem to be included in their calculations.
Mike W. said, "Gun laws have nothing to do with it, since NYC hasn't made any significant changes to its gun laws in recent years."
ReplyDeleteActually that's wrong for two reasons. As JadeGold mentioned there have been some changes in gun laws. But more importantly, it's having the strict gun laws on the books that makes it possible to enforce them. To whatever degree the improved police techniques are involved, the strict gun laws have to be in place in order for those techniques to work.
"Somehow or other, factors such as poverty, overcrowding and despair never seem to be included in their calculations."
ReplyDeleteQuite the contrary Democommie. I believe those factors have a much greater impact on crime in a city than the availability of guns. That's why I cringe anytime I see a mayor like Daley "get tough on crime" by trying to pass yet another gun law or wasting money on a gun buyback, or some other equally pointless endeavor.
I'm glad we can agree that our politicians should be focusing their resources elsewhere.
"Actually that's wrong for two reasons. As JadeGold mentioned there have been some changes in gun laws."
ReplyDeleteJust out of curiosity, what are the new laws? Could somebody provide a detailed rundown of the changes?
Mikeb: As JadeGold mentioned there have been some changes in gun laws.
ReplyDeleteIf there have been changes in NYC gun laws, then they only affect NYC dealers.
But according to gun control advocates, NYC's gun problems come from NON-NYC dealers.
Contradiction?
Which strict laws other than the long-standing Felon in Possession restrictions are the ones that help reduce crime, and how do they do that?
ReplyDeletekaveman said, "And yet,in the late 1920's when any 12 year old with 17 felony convictions could walk into a hardware store and buy a full-auto Tommy gun with no paperwork and no questions asked, NYC's crime numbers were lower."
ReplyDeleteThen JadeGold picked it apart.
Actually I think kaveman makes a good point, even if the example is not literally accurate. The point is there are other factors besides the easy availability of firearms. No one I know has ever denied this. But it seems the gun lovers want to ignore the fact that the availability of guns is one of the factors, and one of the most concrete about which something could be done. The other factors like poverty, poor education, overcrowding and all the rest are being addressed, but to leave the gun availability out of the picture, which is what I think kaveman and the others try to do, is wrong.
Sevesteen, You probably know the laws in New York better than I do, but I know they're know for gun intolerance, especially in the city of Bloomberg (sometimes mistakenly written as Bloomfield).
ReplyDeleteNo one has answered my question on what the new laws are. Are there any, or is this more hot air?
ReplyDeleteRuffRdr - It's complete BS from Jade, which is quite typical for him.
ReplyDeleteHeh, as usual you anti's haven't answered the question?
ReplyDeleteWhich new laws MikeB?
What Jade said was untrue.
Mike W. said, "Heh, as usual you anti's haven't answered the question?"
ReplyDeleteI think JadeGold did answer the question. Was it not to your satisfaction? Is that what you mean by "didn't answer." Mike, for one who calls others out on every possible occasion, you should be more careful with the truth. If the question was answered, you should stop saying it hasn't been. Ya follow?
Here's the answer.
"There are new gun regulations which monitor FFLs and crack down on the crooked ones."
Here's the answer.
ReplyDelete"There are new gun regulations which monitor FFLs and crack down on the crooked ones."
JadeGold makes many claims. Are those NYC or fedearal regulations? When were they implemented?
If there have been changes in NYC gun regulations, then they only affect NYC dealers.
But according to gun control advocates, NYC's gun problems come from NON-NYC dealers.
Nope. That's not an answer MikeB
ReplyDeleteWhich new laws were passed? Simnple question.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.
ReplyDelete