Credit to the administration for a drop in the murder rate
The Washington Times
6/7/2010
Call it the Obama effect. The murder rate dropped 7.4 percent nationwide last year, and the administration can enjoy some of the credit – but not for the reason you might think. Mr. Obama’s election sparked a surge in gun sales, and, consequently, crime rates have plummeted.
In November 2008, a total of 450,000 more people purchased firearms than had bought them in November 2007. This is a more than 10-fold increase, compared with the change in sales from November 2007 over November 2006, which was only about 35,000. The average year-to-year increase in monthly sales in the past decade averaged just 21,000.
The long lines at the local gun stores continued well beyond the presidential election. From November 2008 to October 2009, almost 2.5 million more people bought guns than had done so in the preceding 12 months. It is likely that the total number of guns sold was much higher, as the National Instant Criminal Background Check System only reports the number of purchasers, not how many weapons were purchased.
The last time the murder rate dropped at this rate, it was 1999, and Bill Clinton was president…
The editorial continues at The Washington Times.
