Chicago crime rate drops as concealed carry applications surge

[GodFearinGunTotin]

This seems counter to what we've been hearing about all the shootings and murders going on up there...but for what it's worth:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news...-rate-drops-as-concealed-carry-gun-pe/?page=1

 

[eric001]

I have no idea what the reliability rating for the Washington Times is, but I found it very interesting indeed that they specifically mentioned no spikes in gun-related crimes as the anti-gunners predicted. This almost sounds like a real news story for a change.

 

[Mark 1911]

Even if the source may be somewhat questionable, it makes sense that the crime rate would eventually drop in response to citizens arming themselves. If its true, hopefully it is, its good news.

 

[femurphy77]

But, but, but. . . . . . . .

 

[ryan3030]

Now if only the applications would actually be approved

 

[Birds Away]

Don't hold your breath waiting for a mainstream outlet to cover this story.

 

[Mark 1911]

Anyone know if non-Illinois residents can apply for the Illinois non-resident yet?

Not much point in spending the money on the class if I can't apply.

 

[rob63]

FWIW, the author used to write for Bloomberg News so it doesn't seem likely that she has a pro-gun bias.

 

[midget]

The time frame is too narrow to gather any sort of correlations yet.

 

[88GT]

The time frame is too narrow to gather any sort of correlations yet.

Not necessarily. Some things can have immediate effects. Given that the numbers are still trending downward even when it's peak crime season (summer), I'm inclined to believe there's very good reason to say that there is an effect. But, the intellectually honest person also knows that the half a dozen other factors affecting the crime numbers can and will create upward and downward microtrends, for lack of a better word, even if the over all trend is downward due to the CC legality change.

 

[TontoKowalski]

There are a lot of reasons for the crime rate in Chicago to drop this year. Concealed carry could be one of them, but there's also the extremely cold winter and mild summer in addition to other things. We won't really know for a while exactly what the effects are. What we do know is that the streets aren't running with blood after the introduction of concealed carry there despite what certain people were screaming would happen. Well...no more than usual anyway.

In addition, some elements in Chicago, including police and politicians, may have been playing around with the crime statistics to make themselves look good. Among other questionable practices, a lot of homicides have been getting downgraded to non-criminal death investigations for some reason.
The Truth About Chicago?s Crime Rates | Chicago magazine | May 2014
The Truth About Chicago?s Crime Rates: Part 2 | Chicago magazine | June 2014

 

[zippy23]

I think we shoot look at the root of the story. The reporting. Who does the reporting of the numbers? Which candidates are touting the numbers? This could shed a lot of light on if its really true or not. Either way Chicago sucks.

 

[actaeon277]

nice i just wish it was not 300 bucks for a non resident one.

I didn't think Illinois had a non-resident license/permit.

 

[KLB]

I didn't think Illinois had a non-resident license/permit.

I thought it was available for licensed gun owners from Hawaii

 

[KLB]

Here is my take.

If these stats are from the 1st quarter of the year, then this is way to hasty a judgement. The weather was the biggest factor in less crime the first quarter.

Since Illinois started granting concealed carry permits this year, the number of robberies that have led to arrests in Chicago has declined 20 percent from last year, according to police department statistics. Reports of burglary and motor vehicle theft are down 20 percent and 26 percent, respectively. In the first quarter, the city’s homicide rate was at a 56-year low.

I seriously doubt the criminals are worried about people carrying guns yet. Less than 1% of Cook County residents have even applied, and half the city are gun free zones including all public transportation. Give it a few years and we may see an actual effect on the criminal mindset.

 

[PistolBob]

There are a lot of reasons for the crime rate in Chicago to drop this year. Concealed carry could be one of them, but there's also the extremely cold winter and mild summer in addition to other things. We won't really know for a while exactly what the effects are. What we do know is that the streets aren't running with blood after the introduction of concealed carry there despite what certain people were screaming would happen. Well...no more than usual anyway.

In addition, some elements in Chicago, including police and politicians, may have been playing around with the crime statistics to make themselves look good. Among other questionable practices, a lot of homicides have been getting downgraded to non-criminal death investigations for some reason.
The Truth About Chicago?s Crime Rates | Chicago magazine | May 2014
The Truth About Chicago?s Crime Rates: Part 2 | Chicago magazine | June 2014

They call it "juking the stats", armed robbery becomes larceny, rape becomes assault, assault becomes some other lower level charge....