Despite the spike in mass shootings in recent years, gun crime in America is actually decreasing overall, a
Washington Post story notes, listing some of the reasons.
The Post cites a Pew Research Center study showing 7 deaths by firearm for every 100,000 Americans in 1993, but by 2013, that rate had been cut to 3.6 per 100,000.
And the rate for people involved in gun crimes that did not result in death fell even more — from 725 per 100,000 in 1993 to only 175 in 1993.
And the FBI reports that purposeful killings by guns reached a high point in 1980 with 10.8 intentional killings by firearm per 100,000.
Violence is declining overall, not just violence committed with guns.
Some of the reasons cited by the Post include:
• More police on the streets.
• Police use of computers to pinpoint areas where more patrols are needed.
• Decreased alcohol use.
• Less lead in the air from gasoline after passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. (Though many researchers question claims of a 56 percent drop in violent crime as a result of unleaded gasoline.)
• An improved economy (leading to people being able to buy means to protect themselves and more jobs for those prone to commit crime.)
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