The murder rate is up? Since when? The per capita murder rate is the same now as it was in 1966. It was much higher throughout the 1970s, 80s, and most of the 90s than it is now. It's been pretty flat since about 1999, always around 5.6 or 5.7 murders or non-negilgent homicides per 100,000 people. In 1980 it was 10.2 per 100,000 in inhabitants.
http://www.albany.edu/sourcebook/pdf/t31062007.pdf Here is link to a report you might find interesting from a survey done by Gallop entitled "Perceptions of Crime Problem Remain Curiously Negative:"
http://www.gallup.com/poll/102262/Perceptions-Crime-Problem-Remain-Curiously-Negative.aspx