Gun sales in the US soar as crime continues to drop - Polidicks

[quote=Daily Caller]Despite increases in gun sales, gun crimes continued to decrease in the United States for the fourth straight year in 2010, according to the FBI. The FBI recently released its Crime in The United States statistics for 2010. Overall, murders in the U.S. have decreased steadily since 2006, dropping from 15,087 to 12,996. Firearms murders — which made up 67 percent of all murders in the U.S. in 2010 — have followed this trend, decreasing by 14 percent. At the same time that firearms murders were dropping, gun sales were surging. In 2009, FBI background checks for guns increased by 30 percent over the previous year, while firearms sales in large retail outlets increased by almost 40 percent. The number of applications for concealed carry permits jumped across the country as well. “There was a huge spike,” NRA spokesperson Rachel Parsons said. “It’s probably mellowed out and gone back to normal now.” There is no national registry of guns, but based on sales-tracking and other figures, the National Rifle Association estimates there are 80 to 90 million gun owners in the U.S. Naturally, there is dispute over the significance of the surge in gun sales. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, for instance, says gun ownership in America is actually declining. “While there are more people with concealed carry permits and there has been an increase in gun sales, the research indicates overwhelmingly that the same people are simply buying more guns and that there has been a sharp decline in the percentage of Americans who own guns,” Brady Campaign spokesperson Caroline Brewer said. “So while there may be more guns, they are in the hands of a smaller percentage of Americans.” Ads by Google Pro-Second Amendment advocacy groups have used the decrease in gun crime, and crime in general, as a counter to gun control advocates’ claims that more firearms lead to more gun violence. They also point to the statistics as evidence of the ineffectiveness of gun control laws. The top three states for gun murders in 2010 were, in order, California, Texas and New York. While Texas has lax gun control laws, California and New York are among the strictest gun-control states in the country. “California is in a category of its own as far as gun control laws there,” Parsons said. “New York is a little bit better, but they still have discretionary concealed carry laws.” According to FBI data, California had the most gun murders last year —- 1,257, which is 69 percent of all murders in 2010. Nevertheless, California gun murders are still down by 8 percent from the previous year. Broken down by firearms murder rate per 100,000 people, the District of Columbia is number one, with 16 firearms murders per 100,000 people in the District. D.C. also topped the list of firearm robberies per 100,000 people with 255.98. Yet D.C. arguably has the tightest gun laws in the country. Although an outright ban on handguns was struck down by the Supreme Court in 2008, legislators ensured the new regulations for obtaining a registered handgun would be anything but easy. Like California, the number of firearms murders in D.C. — 99 in 2010 — dropped by 12 percent from the previous year. However, the Brady Campaign argues cities with high rates of gun crime, yet strict gun laws, suffer from being next to states with more lax gun control. “You’ve got states with weaker laws right at the border and have populations that are constantly coming in and out,” Brewer said. “Chicago is right next to Indiana, which has almost no gun laws.” Likewise, Washington, D.C. is sandwiched between Maryland and Virginia. The Brady Campaign also points to the Brady Law, which was enacted in 1993 and requires background checks for firearms purchases, as a reducer of gun crime. Assigning causes to increases or decreases in the national crime rate is a notorious fool’s errand because of the amount of variables at play, but what the numbers don’t suggest is any clear correlation between gun crime, gun ownership and gun-control laws. It bears noting that the FBI’s data, based on reports from local law enforcement, is far from comprehensive. There are no numbers for Florida on firearm murders, and the data for Illinois is “incomplete.” The FBI also warns against using the data to rank areas against each other, noting that rankings “are merely a quick choice made by the data user; they provide no insight into the many variables that mold the crime in a particular town, city, county, state, region or other jurisdiction.” “Consequently, these rankings lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting cities and counties, along with their residents,” the FBI continued.[/quote] This is the only logical result. [url=http://dailycaller.com/2011/09/28/gun-crime-continues-to-decrease-despite-increase-in-gun-ownership/]SOURCE[/url] [quote]Naturally, there is dispute over the significance of the surge in gun sales. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, for instance, says gun ownership in America is actually declining.[/quote] :v:

maybe just stop letting ANYONE buy guys and gun sales will be controlled

How it's supposed to happen.

Blame 3-D movies.

Well no shit crime will drop when you have many more people buying guns to protect their families and property, and people breaking in someone's house are at a higher risk of getting shot. Keep buying guns.

[QUOTE]“While there are more people with concealed carry permits and there has been an increase in gun sales, the research indicates overwhelmingly that the same people are simply buying more guns and that there has been a sharp decline in the percentage of Americans who own guns,” Brady Campaign spokesperson Caroline Brewer said. “So while there may be more guns, they are in the hands of a smaller percentage of Americans.”[/QUOTE] Quote the whole thing when making fun of it, OP, c'mon now.

If law abiding citizens are given the rights and the means to protect themselves from criminals, then said criminals are having a hard time? [highlight]OH WOW, WHO'D HAVE FUCKING GUESSED.[/highlight]

You know, the point of the anti-gun party is that you give the means for criminals to commit crimes as well. Although, it could be argued that a good portion of criminals would get their hands on guns regardless.

[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34833008]Well no shit crime will drop when you have many more people buying guns to protect their families and property, and people breaking in someone's house are at a higher risk of getting shot. Keep buying guns.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=jimhowl33t;34833067]If law abiding citizens are given the rights and the means to protect themselves from criminals, then said criminals are having a hard time? [highlight]OH WOW, WHO'D HAVE FUCKING GUESSED.[/highlight][/QUOTE] I disagree, while it may be a small factor the real reason for the drop in crime none other than Abortions! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6gOeggViw[/media]

[QUOTE=jimhowl33t;34833067]If law abiding citizens are given the rights and the means to protect themselves from criminals, then said criminals are having a hard time? [highlight]OH WOW, WHO'D HAVE FUCKING GUESSED.[/highlight][/QUOTE]Politicians assume that the hard working civvies with the legally aquired guns are the ones who are going to be doing the illegal shit. Obviously not the dude with the illegally aquired guns that you can't regulate in any way's fault.

[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34833008]Well no shit crime will drop when you have many more people buying guns to protect their families and property, and people breaking in someone's house are at a higher risk of getting shot. Keep buying guns.[/QUOTE] How many gun homicides are actually random home invasions

Yet here up in Canada if someone intrudes into your house you're supposed to give them a hug and send them on their hunky doory way with half your most prized possessions.

[QUOTE=James*;34833230]How many gun homicides are actually random home invasions[/QUOTE] Should have said overall gun crimes, people will keep guns in their homes and get concealed carry permits. [editline]23rd February 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=SatansSin;34833234]Yet here up in Canada if someone intrudes into your house you're supposed to give them a hug and send them on their hunky doory way with half your most prized possessions.[/QUOTE] Now, you have to attempt to leave your house and call the police if someone breaks in but doesn't shoot at you. As if i'm going to have time to run around past whoever broke in and say "excuse me while i wake everyone up i'm leaving now and calling the cops". But no one gives a shit about it, even the cops.

Maybe your crime AND gun levels may one day get as low as Europes :v:

[QUOTE=SatansSin;34833234]Yet here up in Canada if someone intrudes into your house you're supposed to give them a hug and send them on their hunky doory way with half your most prized possessions.[/QUOTE] We aren't that bad self defense law wise but we could be a lot better...

Good to hear.

[QUOTE=Falchion;34833393]Maybe your crime AND gun levels may one day get as low as Europe's :v:[/QUOTE] By current trends maybe our crime rate will be as low as yours is now. Gun levels though? Not a chance, gun culture is very heavily ingrained in America.

Will only work in USA

[QUOTE=Political Gamer;34833211]I disagree, while it may be a small factor the real reason for the drop in crime none other than Abortions! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6gOeggViw[/media][/QUOTE] I always love watching that. Even though it has been shown to be complete bunk. Levitte is definitely an interesting guy with weird hypotheses.

[QUOTE=SatansSin;34833234]Yet here up in Canada if someone intrudes into your house you're supposed to give them a hug and send them on their hunky doory way with half your most prized possessions.[/QUOTE] If someone breaks in to my house in texas I'm free to fill them with holes. I can also pursue a subject if they take something from my house.

[QUOTE=Falchion;34833393]Maybe your crime AND gun levels may one day get as low as Europes :v:[/QUOTE] [url]http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_vic-crime-total-victims[/url] (From 2002, when our crime rate was supposedly higher) Or if you prefer your numbers somewhat more raw: [url]http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri-crime-total-crimes[/url] Note that the US has a population of 310 million people. The UK has a population of 62 million. And yet they have half as much crime as the US. They should have roughly 1/5th as much. Germany has a population of 81 million. Again about half as much crime. Should be more like 1/4th as much. France has a population of 65 million. Has about 1/3rd the crime of the US. Should be more like 1/5 as much. Canada has a population of 34 million. Has roughly 1/5th as much crime. Should be 1/9th. (I am aware Canada isn't part of Europe. This one just surprised me) EDIT: Note that I am not taking a run at Europe/Canada or their various policies about firearms. Just pointing out that what we assume to be true, isn't always the case. The US also has more people in prison by a ridiculous margin.

[QUOTE=SpaceGhost;34833008]Well no shit crime will drop when you have many more people buying guns to protect their families and property, and people breaking in someone's house are at a higher risk of getting shot. [b]Keep buying guns.[/b][/QUOTE] No that will mean that everyone will have guns and there will be a war on your street between your neighbors and burglars. :v:

[QUOTE=Ninja Duck;34834777]No it will mean that everyone will have guns and there will be a war on your street between your neighbors and burglars.[/QUOTE] There aren't enough criminals for there to be a citizen vs. criminal 'war'... except for maybe in Detroit and the worse parts of NYC.

[QUOTE=GunFox;34834742][url]http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri_vic-crime-total-victims[/url] (From 2002, when our crime rate was supposedly higher) Or if you prefer your numbers somewhat more raw: [url]http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_tot_cri-crime-total-crimes[/url] Note that the US has a population of 310 million people. The UK has a population of 62 million. And yet they have half as much crime as the US. They should have roughly 1/5th as much. Germany has a population of 81 million. Again about half as much crime. Should be more like 1/4th as much. France has a population of 65 million. Has about 1/3rd the crime of the US. Should be more like 1/5 as much. Canada has a population of 34 million. Has roughly 1/5th as much crime. Should be 1/9th. (I am aware Canada isn't part of Europe. This one just surprised me)[/QUOTE] From your source: "Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence."

Proof here that gun control does nothing

[QUOTE=Ermac20;34835041]Proof here that gun control does nothing[/QUOTE] Erm no not at all

[QUOTE=James*;34835017]From your source: "Crime statistics are often better indicators of prevalence of law enforcement and willingness to report crime, than actual prevalence."[/QUOTE] Oh it relies on way more than that. How crimes are classified, what crimes are reported, how strict the law is, etc etc. It is why I didn't use Italy or Russia as a comparison point. Statistics from them tend to be less reliable as comparison points. You aren't going to get a perfect comparison. However unless these numbers are wrong by several [I]orders of magnitude[/I], that still doesn't change the point.

[QUOTE] Assigning causes to increases or decreases in the national crime rate is a notorious fool’s errand because of the amount of variables at play, but what the numbers don’t suggest is any clear correlation between gun crime, gun ownership and gun-control laws.[/QUOTE] I knew everyone was going to jump over this part.

The vast majority of gun crime is just gang related in bad parts of urban areas anyways. Despite what Europeans would like to think, people shooting one another outside of those areas is quite a rarity.

correlation is causation, but i can see how where a society embedded with gun laws is rife, having protection in the form of guns wouldnt hurt