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Posted on 08/04/2013 3:32:02 PM PDT by servo1969
Amid calls nationwide for stricter gun control laws, Virginia is experiencing a unique trend: the state's gun-related crime is declining but firearms sales are increasing.
Firearms sales rose 16 percent to a record 490,119 guns purchased from licensed gun dealers in 2012, according to sales estimates obtained by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
During the same period, major crimes committed with firearms dropped 5 percent to 4,378.
"This appears to be additional evidence that more guns don't necessarily lead to more crime," said Thomas R. Baker, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University's L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs who specializes in research methods and criminology theory.
"It's a quite interesting trend given the current rhetoric about strengthening gun laws and the presumed effect it would have on violent crimes," Baker told the newspaper. "While you can't conclude from this that tougher laws wouldn't reduce crime even more, it really makes you question if making it harder for law-abiding people to buy a gun would have any effect on crime."
But he cautioned against drawing any conclusions that more guns in the hands of Virginians are causing a corresponding drop in gun crime.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Oh, yes...
DUH!
Since the US Supreme Court struck down DC’s gun control law violent crime and murders is down over 40%.
As gun salews soar, crime decreases. Sounds like a trend to me as it has happened in several places and will continue happening in others as people arm themselves.
We should all thank odumbo for being the “Gun Salesman Of The Year”.
Mutually assured destruction in the micro. Worked for Henry the K.
Texas and Virginia has CHL reciprocity. When I ever I go there, I bring along my handgun. For the most part, I think I need it more there than here. Good on Virginia for being pro-gun. I am sure that it reduces crime and give people peace of mind when going into certain areas.
correction:
Texas and Virginia **have** CHL reciprocity ...
My husband packed. He bought the pistol in northern California where we lived for a while so he got his license to pack there. However, the license covers all the state ergo he packed in San Francisco where we ended up returning to. It sure felt good. :o)
It’s not a Unique trend at all.
Crime goes down when guns are around.
Old people in Florida and Texas can feel safer when they are out and about. That's a biggie in every sense of the word. Bay guys avoid them in public areas because the old farts MIGHT be packing.
Not unique at all. See John Lott's "More Guns, Less Crime." But I am not surprised a journalist does not know that.
I am not exactly old, but having a gun with me when I drive through some of the seedier areas of Virgina or Texas gives me peace of mind.
As far as overall crime reduction, I think it has some deterrence value. I do know one thing, I am better off with a gun than without one should I become the object of someone’s criminal plans or just end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
When ever I am in a non-free state such as Maryland or NY, I keep a baseball bat in the back seat. It’s not a good substitute, but it’s better than nothing. My travels in such areas have become less frequent as a result.
Gun control is like trying to solve drunk driving by making it harder for sober people to own cars.
So thugs are less likely to commit crimes if there is a risk of getting shot?
Stop the presses!
Article in some California paper the last couple days had the same quandary — over 1 million guns a year are being sold in the state, but gun crime is DECREASING! It’s a real stumper, I tell you.
You are wise to curtail your travel to bad areas. You never know what can happen.
My husband taught me to shoot and he made the point that I have to actually pull the trigger when the time comes. That is the purpose of the gun. Waving the gun around solves nothing...pulling that trigger is what it's all about and when I have a pistol in my hand, I must be ready to do just that.
Your husband taught you right. No one ever knows how they will respond in a crisis, but training and mental preparation can make a world of difference in outcome.
The mental preparation: readiness to aggress in a strong manner.
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