Posted on 01/03/2014 12:32:54 PM PST by SeekAndFind
James Craig just took over the office of police chief last summer, but he’s already making waves in Detroit. A reorganization of the police force in the bankrupt metropolis has resulted in a higher clearance rate in murder cases, and the murder rate dropped almost 14% in 2013 from its two-decade high in 2012. However, Craig has some advice for his fellow citizens in Motor City if they really want a drop in crime — arm yourselves:
If more citizens were armed, criminals would think twice about attacking them, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said Thursday.
Urban police chiefs are typically in favor of gun control or reluctant to discuss the issue, but Craig on Thursday was candid about how he’s changed his mind.
“When we look at the good community members who have concealed weapons permits, the likelihood they’ll shoot is based on a lack of confidence in this Police Department,” Craig said at a press conference at police headquarters, adding that he thinks more Detroit citizens feel safer, thanks in part to a 7 percent drop in violent crime in 2013.
Craig wasn’t always in favor of carry permits. While serving in Los Angeles, where permits are issued on a notoriously miserly (and some would add arbitrary) manner, Craig thought that disarmament was the answer. It wasn’t until he went to a carry-friendly jurisdiction that he understood the difference:
Craig said he started believing that legal gun owners can deter crime when he became police chief in Portland, Maine, in 2009.
“Coming from California (Craig was on the Los Angeles police force for 28 years), where it takes an act of Congress to get a concealed weapon permit, I got to Maine, where they give out lots of CCWs (carrying concealed weapon permits), and I had a stack of CCW permits I was denying; that was my orientation.
“I changed my orientation real quick. Maine is one of the safest places in America. Clearly, suspects knew that good Americans were armed.”
It’s not the first time that Craig has endorsed carry permits. Two weeks ago, the Detroit News notes, he told a local radio show that responsibly armed citizens act as a deterrent, in a city that can clearly use one. Even though the murder rate has dropped, Detroit had as many homicides in 2013 as New York City, which has more than ten times its population. Chicago had only 29 more than Detroit despite having nearly four times the population. It’s worth noting that both New York City and Chicago have extraordinary restrictions on gun ownership, let alone carry permits, and Chicago routinely ranks among the worst American metropolitan areas for homicides and violent crime.
At least one recent study suggests that Craig hits the nail on the head. A long-range study by a Quinnipiac University economist shows that states with more restrictions on firearm ownership and carry permits had higher murder rates by guns than gun-friendly states, and suggests that increasing restrictions on concealed-carry permits pushes the murder rate up, not down. It also showed that assault-weapons bans had no effect on murder rates.
Perhaps more police chiefs will change their orientation with this information at hand. State legislatures should get ahead of that curve.
Addendum: Via Instapundit, let’s not forget that increasing restrictions on gun ownership can be bad for the economy as well as the crime rate, as it will be in Colorado:
Magpul Industries announced today that it is relocating its operations to Wyoming and Texas.
The company is relocating manufacturing, distribution and shipping operations to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Magpul is leasing a 58,000 square foot manufacturing and distribution facility during the construction of a 100,000 square foot build-to-suit facility in the Cheyenne Business Parkway. The Wyoming relocation is being completed with support from Governor Matt Mead, the Wyoming Business Council and Cheyenne LEADS.
Magpul is moving its corporate headquarters to Texas. Three North Central Texas sites are under final consideration, and the transition to the Texas headquarters will begin as soon as the facility is selected. The Texas relocation is being accomplished with support from Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Economic Development Corporation.
“Magpul made the decision to relocate in March 2013 and has proceeded on an aggressive but deliberate path” says Doug Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Magpul Industries. “These dual moves will be carried out in a manner that ensures our operations and supply chain will not be interrupted and our loyal customers will not be affected.”
The company began a nationwide search for a new base of operations after legislation was enacted in Colorado that dramatically limits the sale of firearms accessories – the core of Magpul’s business. Magpul plans on initially transitioning 92% of its current workforce outside of Colorado within 12-16 months and will maintain only limited operations in Colorado.
“Moving operations to states that support our culture of individual liberties and personal responsibility is important,” says Richard Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer for Magpul Industries. “This relocation will also improve business operations and logistics as we utilize the strengths of Texas and Wyoming in our expansion.”
Self Appointed Posting Police: I figured you would be getting one of those, “This has already been posted” posts so I thought I would try to beat them to it. Slow day...Sorry
My neighbor came here to be a cop on our little 5 man police force and we closed it down less than a year later and he decided to stay and do something else.
He also has made two huge raids on known crime areas, apartment buildings, and hauled off many suspects in each raid. The people living there were ecstatic, cheering and thanking the police. It was a sight to behold. I’ve never heard of any police chief in Detroit doing this.
“We need more people like this.”
We do. Obviously this guy is up to a challenge if he took the job in Detroit.
When have you ever seen such a city or town? When there are more predators than prey, the ecological niche breaks down and ceases to exist. Predators have nothing to gain by preying on each other.
I would suggest that predators can't survive where there are no (or too few) prey. Those that are attracted to greener pastures will be put in check if most of the prey are armed. The validity of the 'more guns = less crime' theory holds.
Criminals would do more than think twice if those same citizens openly carried. Do that in Detroit and watch how fast the incidence of violent crime falls.
What does that mean?
It's from the words of the 2nd Amendment, "...to keep and bear arms..."
To 'bear' arms, is to openly wear them on your person.
If that's your interpretation then Michigan is indeed in compliance since open carry is perfectly legal.
However, as the above poster mentioned, "constitutional carry" I guess is supposed to include concealed carry without a permit.........
That's the "shall not be infringed" part of the 2nd Amendment. You betcha.
And now the chief draws praise on twitter from Ted Cruz.
Senator Ted Cruz @SenTedCruz 24m
After seeing concealed carry in action, Detroit Police Chief confirms a law-abiding, armed citizenry deters crime
John Lott said tonight that Jim Noble, head of INTERPOL basically came to the same conclusion.
“When have you ever seen such a city or town? When there are more predators than prey, the ecological niche breaks down and ceases to exist. Predators have nothing to gain by preying on each other.”
The closest that I have heard of is Colon, Panama. I was told that the thieves steal from each other there.
I have also read of tribal areas in Africa around 1900, where it was essentially “every man for himself” and no one was “safe” at any time, as murder was condoned and encouraged.
In conditions such as that, there is very little productivity, and not much to steal.
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