Do you think that there might be a relationship between the decrease in violent crime and the increase in private weapon carry permits being gained?

Examiner

Number of Arkansas concealed handgun permits up 48%, murder rate down

2009 FBI Crime Data - Unemployment is high, the economy is down. Yet for all the signs of recession, something is missing: More crime.

A preliminary FBI report released Monday states violent crime is down 4.4 percent and homicides are 10 percent lower over the first half of 2009, national rates which have not been seen since the 1960’s. Every recession since the 1950’s has been accompanied with a strong rise in crime, but this past year has bucked the trend. The Associated Press, in a news article reporting the new data, attempted to tie this good news to many different factors but was unable to show any valid reasons for the steep decline. A quick review of a few Arkansas State Police numbers will give an understanding of the reason for the crime rate drop.

In February, 2009, the number of Arkansas Concealed Handgun License holders stood at approximately 56,000. On December 22, eleven months later, the Arkansas State Police has the total number of CHL holders at 80,140, a very impressive increase of greater than 48 percent. Using 2008 U.S. Census data, this means four percent of the adult population in Arkansas is licensed to carry a firearm concealed and could be armed at any given time. When this data is coupled with the fact the national crime rate has dropped 46 percent since 1991 (the first year concealed carry was legalized in the U.S.), it becomes clear criminals fear armed, law-abiding citizens. While the national press attempts to credit policies such as “smart policing” for holding down the murder rate, pure statistics suggest arming the citizenry is having a strong affect. The media almost gets it correct when they suggest more people are at home during the day due to more unemployment, but the answer may be more Arkansans are arming themselves at home.

Gun owners in this state are discovering their natural rights and are exercising them at a rapidly growing rate. Obviously, the crime rate will continue to decline in comparison.

It is like the president said... we need to learn how to connect the dots.

That same advise works extremely well with certain pistol sight alignments also.

xtnyoda, shalomed

H/T to Cliff!