Murders way, way down in DC this year

[DanS]

I arrived in DC in 1991, a year in which 479 murders happened inside the city limits.

This year, we're on track for 134, a 72% reduction from 1991 and a 28% reduction from last year. This despite the fact that the economy sucks.

Could it be the cool weather? The final waning of the crack cocaine epidemic?

[Asher]

Someone must've brought Hope and Change to the region.

[DanS]

That's actually a pretty interesting hypothesis. It seems possible that Obama had some impact.

More likely, it's all because TimexWatch joined the police force.

[rah]

In chicago, the weather plays a big roll. The gangs don't like it too hot or not hot enough.

[DanS]

We haven't had a murder in DC so far in September. That's pretty amazing, given past experience.

We're probably all becoming old farts. Old farts don't murder anybody.

[Kontiki]

Very impressive numbers. We had 70 in Toronto last year, and have 40 so far this year. Of course, we're only ~4.4 times the size of DC.

[Blaupanzer]

Can you say "Arsenic and Old Lace?" Also that guy that gunned down the guard in downtown DC was pretty old. Even so most of us old farts are not as hot-headed as we once were.

[KrazyHorse]

Baltimore's at about the same rate as last year. Big drop happened from 2007 to 2008

2007: 282
2008: 234

as of Sept. 9 2009, 151 in 2009

at the same time in 2008: 152
at the same time in 2007: 215

[OzzyKP]

Murders way down even without their gang injunction bill or an emergency curfew extension. Take that Jim Graham you bastard.

[DanS]

Looks like we've exported our murderers to Baltimore and Prince George's County.

[ColdWizard]

Someone must've brought Hope and Change to the region.

MrFun

[Felch]

Exporting the murders to PG sounds more likely. That place is turning into a third world county.

Ozzy, I'm guessing you've heard the same curfew ads I've heard about PG. Two things bother me:

1) It's a crime to be outside. That's just anti-freedom in general. Sacrificing a fundamental right (going outside your house) in exchange for the chimerical promise of public safety is a fool's deal.

2) The fines seem outrageous. Assuming that the curfews serve a valid public purpose (and that's giving them a lot), the idea that it's appropriate to fine people who are probably struggling financially really bothers me. Times are tough for everybody, and these curfews are mostly targeting lower income folks who are struggling more that most.

Hooray for DC.

[Lefty Scaevola]

Perhaps overturning part of DC's gun control laws made the pickins a little harder for the gangs. It no so much fun shooting up neihborhoods when they shoot back.

[MrFun]

Well you see, I moved here to surroundinig DC area and I helped organized the Pink Panthers Militia to help squash violence in the area.

[Sprayber]

Does anyone know of an instance of a city trying to impose a curfew on everyone including adults. Seems like I was watching a debate on tv a month ago or so about such an attempt. Perhaps it was merely hypothetical. I was at a Chinese place and I was half listening to tv half talking to the person across from me.