Apr. 4, 2014 4:45pm Jason Howerton
On July 9, 2013, a bill to recognize Illinois gun owners’ right to carry concealed firearms was passed by both chambers of the state Legislature. Illinois became the last state in the nation to allow public possession of concealed guns.
Gun control advocates warned that high-crime areas, like Chicago, would only see more violence if residents were allowed to carry guns in public.
In reality, the opposite may be happening.
On Tuesday, the Chicago Police Department announced that the city experienced its lowest murder rate since 1958 in the first quarter of 2014. There were 6 fewer murders than the same timeframe in 2013 — a 9 percent drop — and 55 fewer murders than 2012, police said.
Further, there were reportedly 90 fewer shootings and 119 fewer shooting victims compared to last year. There have also been 222 fewer shootings and 292 fewer shooting victims compared to the first quarter in 2012.
All crime is down 25 percent from 2013 and police say they have confiscated over 1,300 illegal guns in the last three months.
Now, it’s entirely too soon to conclude that the concealed carry law is partly responsible for Chicago’s across-the-board drop in the crime. However, it is not unreasonable to conclude the drop in crime may undercut gun control advocates’ argument that more guns equal more crime.
It should also be noted that the first concealed carry permits were issued in late February, so the decrease in crime can’t yet be attributed to more people carrying guns.
The more telling statistics will be revealed as 2014 marches on. Still, as always, correlation doesn’t necessarily mean causation.
Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy called the drop in crime a “trend.” He attributed the drop to the “talent level of individuals” on the police force, “intelligent policing strategies” and other programs. He did not mention the concealed carry law.
Independent Journal Review’s Mike Miller outlines some of the research that has been conducted on the issue:
Gun crime experts John Lott, Jr. and David Mustard made the famous argument in “Crime, Deterrence, and Right-to-Carry Concealed Firearms” that: “When state concealed handgun laws went into effect in a county, murders fell by 8.5 percent, and rapes and aggravated assaults fell by 5 and 7 percent.” More guns mean less crime.
Gary Kleck, PhD., also a gun crime expert, found that the crime deterrence effect of firearms possession is significant: sophisticated statistics suggest three to four crimes are stopped by a handgun than are committed in the United States every year.
Detroit, a longtime progressive city plagued by violent crime, is currently taking an armed stand against criminals. The city’s police chief, James Craig, has advised “fed up” residents to exercise their Second Amendment rights if they feel their life is in danger.
He said criminals should be afraid to break into homes or commit other crimes because it could be the last thing they ever do. Craig also pointed out, “you’re not always going to have time to dial 911.”
As TheBlaze reported last month, the number of fatal self-defense shootings are on the rise in Detroit. There had already been 10 fatal self-defense shootings in the city as of March 27, while there were only 15 in all of 2013.
Time will tell if criminals in Detroit will get the message and think twice before breaking the law. One thing is undeniable, as Craig says, “a lot of good Detroiters are fed up.”
This story has been updated to note that the first concealed carry permits in Illinois were issued in late February.
7 comments:
So if Canada is suppose to be a conservative country under the rule of Harper then why aren't we allowed to have concealed carry laws? Why is it when a legal gun owner in Harper's Canada defends his property he then gets charged with a crime? One case in point: Gary Paul Bucci of Calgary was charged with several offences and had his guns confiscated by police after he shot at criminal who was kicking in his basement window in an apparent attempted home invasion.
That's a real beautiful story you have about Chicago and how it's much safer now that they have taken an actual conservative right winged approach to guns.
But dude we live in Canada where 95% of the people of left winged including Harper and his liberal government. Guns are taboo. Your kid draws a picture of you holding a gun and your get arrested, guns confiscated and your a bad guy! You live in a town where w flood happens and the national police force kick in your door and take your legally owned guns.
Buddy you live in a dream world discussing how great and conservative Chicago is. Buddy take a look at this current government and how bleeding heart they are! Harper had over 7 years to change things and did dilly squat. Harper passes a few lil pieces of legislation that people like you actually think is conservative but take the time to read it and you'll see! You me and the few remaining conservatives all got fooled by Harper and his so called conservative government.
Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice......you get shamed......
So, in 2015 we can expect you to vote for the Liberals or NDP? Good luck with that!
Harper may not have kept all his campaign promises,some implied, some stated outright, no politician ever does because no politician can, but there is no other alternative if you want to own guns.
Much as I also criticise the PM for his lack of action on Bill C-68 and property rights, he's the best alternative we have.
Look at the man Harper once was and look at the man he is now! He's a liberal in blue clothing. Ever since he got out east he has done nothing but appease the eastern mentality and the "Nation of Quebec". Yeah remember that stunt he pulled in 2006 after first being elected? Look at all the money that Alberta sends out east and Quebec so that they can have their free things! Harper is a joke and he's fooled people just like you sir! And the best you can do is call me a liberal of ndp or whatever. Wake up you been fooled. Go ahead and vote for Harper he'll do the exact same thing as Trudeau or Muclair....steal Alberta's money for the east.
Ah yes , bring back the daze of Liberal tyrants that would hide behind the SCOC when it suited them , and then
use the Noble Lie to steal money as in the AdScam and now the Wynne election fraud to buy 4 seats for $1.1 billion dollars of OUR money. McLiar fled to Boston while two of the crooks fled to B.C. .
old white guy asks...... who do you vote for when no one and I mean no one reflects your values and ideas of freedom and small government? 60% of all Canadians will vote the socialist line the rest are socialist lite, that includes most who call themselves conservatives.
Canada is such as socialist country and even more under Harper, especially for Quebec and the east. The socialist mentality in Canada is why we have extremely strict gun control laws. This blog story is about concealed carry which is only a dream for Canadian conservatives. Just a dream. Yeah Harper got rid of the gun registry big deal! Concealed carry is an impossibility in Canada unless your a police officer. We have no right to self defence in Canada cause we are socialists and we are suppose to call the police, who carry guns for us. We have no right to protect our home in Canada. The government and police protect us cause we are socialists. You go and try to break into Mr. Harper's house and see what will happen? Yeah Mr. Milton Conservative you will then indeed meet one of your heroes who has a concealed carry permit!!!! Yeah the plain cloths RCMP who protects Harper and his family. Welcome to socialism in it's purest form.
Note how the PMO Palace Guards can't actually defend Harper, they can only tell lame stories about hypothetical scenarios.
Harper hates freedom.
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