Crime in Arizona dropped sharply in 2009, with overall violent crime down by 13.9 percent.
FBI statistics released on Monday show murder and non-negligent manslaughter dropped by 22 percent in 2009. Last year, 354 people were victims of murder or manslaughter, compared to 454 people the year earlier.
Forcible rape was down by 3.8 percent, and both robbery and aggravated assault dropped by double digits.
Property crimes dropped by nearly 12 percent, lead by a 32 percent decline in motor vehicle theft.
Only South Dakota saw a larger drop in violent crime than Arizona.
Nationally, violent crime dropped by 5.3 percent and property crime decreased by 4.6 percent.
OldLehiLady posted at 12:17 pm on Tue, Sep 14, 2010.
The old wisdom of the left that crime is caused by poverty has just been blown out of the water.
Yarbles posted at 9:52 am on Tue, Sep 14, 2010.
Sparky,
Concealed carry without a permit only when in to affect after July, but I agree that gun rights probably cause some to think twice before breaking and entering.
Beefrits, immigration has been decreasing for the past five years and the laws passed over the last year probably had little affect on this report in my opinion.
I think the decrease is probably a result of better trained and organized police departments to be honest.
Regardless I think we can all agree that this is good news.
Poorman posted at 7:03 am on Tue, Sep 14, 2010.
New concealed carry law was not in effect when these stats were gathered,2009,2008 etc. I suspect poster beefrits go it right,the southbound exodus.
beefrits posted at 6:15 am on Tue, Sep 14, 2010.
I don't suppose anyone would link the drop in crime to the exodus of pickup trucks piled high with furniture that headed south back across the border when SB1070 was passed. Nah, that can't be the reason.
Sparky posted at 8:00 pm on Mon, Sep 13, 2010.
I wonder if the concealed carry law has anything to do with that, bad guys think twice before striking, could get shot![beam]