Homicide rate hits one-per-day level (Gun Control Anyone?)

Washington Times ^ | 11/22/02 | Matthew Cella

[kattracks]

The District yesterday surpassed its homicide total for all of last year, in the midst of a violent month that thus far has averaged a killing per day.

With 40 days left in 2002, there were 236 killings in the city compared with 233 in all of 2001. The killings this year, 32 more than this time last year, are on a pace to reach 263 by the end of the year. That total would be the highest since Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey was sworn in as head of the Metropolitan Police Department in April 1998.

[GailA]

Memphis had 158 last year. Might be higher than that this year as the gangbangers are going at it pretty heavily, with little interference from the PD.

[palmer]

"Obviously it's disappointing," Chief Ramsey said of the escalation in violence this year. "We'd had a steady decline." He stressed, though, that overall crime in the city, including sexual assault, robbery and theft, is down 3.5 percent.

Translation: we're having trouble cooking the homicide numbers

[Flint]

Chief Ramsey said, but he added that the department has had trouble getting community members to come forward and testify when they have knowledge of a homicide.

Well Chief, the folks are completly defensless. They come forward and a jerk with a gun can come after them. The population has nothing to defend themselves with.

[Tijeras_Slim]

the homicide rate peaked in 1991 with 482 persons killed

That was the year I worked in Anacostia. And why I laughed about the "crime rate" when I moved to New Mexico in 1992.

[coloradan]

He said the easy availability of guns contributes to the problem, since about 75 percent of the victims are killed with guns.

Well then, I suppose DC ought to ban guns?