Posted on 01/18/2010 6:37:17 AM PST by ButThreeLeftsDo
The District and Prince George's County, long considered the region's most violent jurisdictions, logged their lowest homicide totals in years in 2009, with D.C. hitting a 45-year -low.
The number of slayings last year in the District, once known as the murder capital of the United States, was 140, a 25 percent drop from 2008. Prince George's recorded 100 killings, the county's lowest in nine years. Montgomery and Fairfax counties also had significant decreases in homicides in 2009.
But the drop in the District was unprecedented and significant for its size and its scope: Every police district in the city experienced at least a double-digit drop in homicides.
"It's huge," said D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier. "We're making an impact."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
This was also the first full year after the D.C. handgun ban was found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in District of Columbia v. Heller, and therefore the first year that city residents were able to maintain handguns legally in their homes.
I wonder how much this has to do with illegals leaving due to the bad economy?
Excellent thought!
The very first word that came to mind after I read the headline: Heller.
That is no doubt a factor. But I think it is mostly the result of 1) the end of the hand-gun ban in the District and 2) a major crackdown on drug gangs, across several jurisdictions, targeting both indigenous and foreign born gangs, that has been going on for several years and is beginning to show results.
Sounds like Mr. Heller has saved a lot of lives.
http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/cwp/view,a,1239,q,561242,mpdcNav_GID,1523,mpdcNav,%7C.asp
details via www.thugreport.com...
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