Florida crime rate at lowest level in 35 years

Regis Philbin · Jul 11th, 2006, 06:48 PM

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/state/c...ida_Crime.html

Quote:

Bush: Florida crime rate down to lowest level since '71

By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida's crime rate dropped for the 14th straight year in 2005 to its lowest mark since 1971 because of tougher laws, increased financial support from the Legislature and law-abiding citizens with guns, Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday.

"This report shows that staying tough on crime works," said Bush. "Law abiding citizens that have guns for protection actually probably are part of the reason we have a lower crime rate."

The crime rate, compiled by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, decreased 3.7 percent from 4,855 crimes per 100,000 people in 2004 to 4,677 crimes per 100,000 people last year. The total included 881 murders, 12,230 rapes and 75,204 vehicle thefts.

In 2005, the state's law enforcement agencies reported 838,063 crimes compared to 850,490 in 2004, a 1.5 percent decrease.

Last year Bush signed a bill that allows people who feel threatened on the street, in a bar, at a ball game — or just about anywhere — to "meet force with force" to defend themselves without fear of being prosecuted.

"You send a real powerful signal when you know the citizen has a good potential of being armed and doesn't have to back off anymore," said John Birch, president of the Illinois-based Concealed Carry, Inc.

Opponents, however, have said the idea would legalize shootouts in the streets.

*Candy* · Jul 11th, 2006, 06:49 PM

Have you heard of a book called Freakonomics? Quite interesting, pick up a copy.

**Richard Tafoya** · Jul 11th, 2006, 07:03 PM

Yeah, some people just love the thought of everyone waving guns around. Here's more from a local TV report that points out another trend:

http://www.wesh.com/news/9499939/detail.html

Quote:

However, the rate of violent crime is actually up in some cities compared to other cities around the country.

Murder rates in Jacksonville and some Central Florida counties increased. Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist blamed much of the problem on habitual offenders.

Regis Philbin · Jul 11th, 2006, 07:20 PM

**Richard Tafoya** · Jul 11th, 2006, 07:23 PM

If you can show that the murder rates in Jacksonville and Orlando were driven by knives or strangulations or some of non-gun murder implement, I'll concede the point.

I'm simply suggesting that guns may have played a role in the rise in the number of murders in central Florida. Prove me wrong.

**Annoyedlistner** · Jul 12th, 2006, 06:29 AM

i like the fact that Regis is trying to say that crime is low because of what Jeb Bush has one in FL...when the article says that crime rates have dropped every year for 14 years....well before Jebbers took office....

Jul 11th, 2006, 06:49 PM	#2
Candy Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: A big ole' Chruch with a population of 2 mill. mostly mormon ppl,a.k.a UT Posts: 7,488	Have you heard of a book called Freakonomics? Quite interesting, pick up a copy. __________________ “People are poor because they are lazy.”- George W. Bush, 1973 www.myspace.com/kaotickandy

Jul 11th, 2006, 07:20 PM	#4
Regis Philbin Registered User Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Neither here nor there Posts: 15,292	__________________ When most Americans read the novel 1984 they were scared. When Obama read 1984, he started taking notes. --- Rush Limbaugh The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. --- Margaret Thatcher

Jul 12th, 2006, 06:29 AM	#6
Annoyedlistner Moderately Annoyed Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Charlotte Posts: 2,948	i like the fact that Regis is trying to say that crime is low because of what Jeb Bush has one in FL...when the article says that crime rates have dropped every year for 14 years....well before Jebbers took office.... __________________ “We must scrupulously guard the civil rights and civil liberties of all our citizens, whatever their background. We must remember that any oppression, any injustice, any hatred, is a wedge designed to attack our civilization.” FDR (1940)

Jul 11th, 2006, 07:23 PM	#5
Richard Tafoya Administrator Join Date: Jun 1999 Location: Los Angeles, CA USA Posts: 11,187	If you can show that the murder rates in Jacksonville and Orlando were driven by knives or strangulations or some of non-gun murder implement, I'll concede the point. I'm simply suggesting that guns may have played a role in the rise in the number of murders in central Florida. Prove me wrong.