Florida crime rate drops — again
Imagine that. Florida's crime rate decreased for the 14th straight year in 2005 to its lowest mark since 1971. How can this be? For all those years, didn't the liberal elites, anti-gun zealots, and disarmament groups guarantee that our "senseless, Wild West" gun laws would promote daily shoot-outs across the state and blood to run in the streets?
Yes they did, still do, and with absolutely no factual evidence to support such preposterous claims. However, the dogmatic foes of the Second Amendment have no other option than to maintain an incessant barrage of such tendention. If they suddenly recant their propaganda now, they will lose tens of millions in donations gleaned annually from the international and home-grown wing nuts and decent but beguiled citizens who support them.
No matter. The fact remains that the crime rate, compiled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), decreased 3.7 percent from 4,855 crimes per 100,000 people in 2004 to 4,677 crimes per 100,000 people last year (View the 2005 Uniform Crime Report in PDF format). The total included 881 murders, 12,230 rapes, and 75,204 vehicle thefts. This is good news.
Here in little Martin County, FDLE confirmed a 10.1 percent decrease in the total number of reported major crimes that include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. This is better news.
Certainly this healthy, long-term trend was effected by something or some things. But what, specifically? How has Florida, with so many major metropolitan areas and a burgeoning population, actually reduced its major crime rates for so many consecutive years while so many other states did not or could not?
Before any plausible explanations can be postulated, a few general observations should be noted: 1) Florida's law enforcement community is no better nor worse than that of any other state; 2) Florida's courts are packed with as many liberal judges as those of any other state; 3) Florida's illegal alien population is as high or higher than that of any other state; and 4) The percentage of population reflecting Florida's traditional victim class — senior citizens — has remained consistent for decades. On average, residents 65 and older comprise approximately 32 percent of total population.
So no discernible advantages for Florida are readily apparent. Then what might account for a consistent reduction in major crime? Sensible people might offer the following:
1. Public Involvement. It would be reasonable to hypothesize a correlation between Florida's significant 14-year decline in major crime and 18 years of law-abiding citizens taking advantage of the state's cutting-edge concealed carry weapons legislation. And this existing legislation was strengthened last year when Governor Jeb Bush signed a bill that allowed residents — inside or outside the home — to "meet force with force" and defend themselves without fear of prosecution (the Castle Doctrine).
2. Political Leadership. It would also be within the realm of reason to note a parallel between Florida's 14-year decline in major crime and a corresponding number of years of conservative control within the State House and Senate. During this timeframe, the Legislature advanced tougher criminal statutes with which liberal judges have had no choice but to explicitly follow — there is less wiggle room for sentence reduction or alternative sentencing. Tallahassee also increased financial support for Florida law enforcement agencies.
3. Capital Punishment. Although statistics are manipulated to suit the needs of both sides in the death penalty debate, common sense supports the inference that if the threat of the death penalty decreases, the rate of capital crimes increase. In 1978, the United States Supreme Court reversed its 1972 decision and restored the death penalty by holding in Gregg v. Georgia that:
"Although some of the studies suggest that the death penalty may not function as a significantly greater deterrent than lesser penalties, there is no convincing empirical evidence supporting or refuting this view. We may nevertheless assume safely there are murders, such as those who act in passion, for whom the threat of death has little or no deterrent effect. But for many others, the death penalty undoubtedly, is a significant deterrent."
Florida proscribes the death penalty in capital crime cases and has taken statutory and administrative measures to reduce the interminable appeals process.
4. Thriving Economy. Unlike other parts of the country, Florida's unemployment figures have been consistently low and its economy has been robust throughout the last two decades. There have been no long-term economic slumps and no dramatic upsurge in unemployment figures. Simply stated and according to most sociologists and criminologists, there is less crime when the economy is good.
So can we Floridians thank any or all of the above for the long-term reduction in major crimes? I think so, particularly the first reason cited, but to be honest I admit to a high degree of bias.
I'm a law-abiding gun owner and I carry.