[ican'tbelieveit]

Murders getting solved is not the same as preventing murders. Two different data sets.

[ConservingFreedom]

Government has done a fair job of legislating that subset of morality that says "don't violate the rights of others" - for example, two out of three murders get solved. Government has an abysmal track record when it comes to preventing immorality conducted among consenting adults, and has done a great deal of harm in the attempt.

Murders getting solved is not the same as preventing murders.

All else being equal, the deterrent effect of after-the-fact punishment increases as the likelihood of that punishment being imposed increases.