FBI: Murder, Violent Crime Dropped in 2008

(CBS/AP)  The FBI says murder and manslaughters reported to police dropped almost 4 percent last year.

The data was part of the Bureau's annual release of statistics, "Crime in the United States."

The 3.9 percent decline in killings was part of a nationwide drop in violent crime of 1.9 percent from 2007 to 2008.

There were an estimated 454.5 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants in 2008.

The number of forcible rapes (89,000 or 57.7 per 100,000 females) represents a decrease of 1.6% from the 2007 estimate, and is the lowest figure in the last 20 years.

Property crimes also declined overall, by 0.8 percent, but that was driven mostly by a very large drop in car thefts, which declined 12.7 percent.

The other major categories of property crime, burglaries and larceny-thefts, both rose.

Regionally, the South had the highest crime rate, while the lowest was in the Northeast.

The figures are based on crimes reported to police, who then forward the figures to the FBI.

The data are similar to preliminary figures announced by the bureau in June.

Crime in the United States: 2008 (fbi.gov)

Data regarding the 14,180 murders committed in 2008 includes the following:

Victims:

• Race: 49.0% were white, 48.6% were black, and 2.3% were from other races; race for 239 victims was unknown.

• Relationships (if known): 23.3% were slain by family members, 22.0% by strangers, and 54.7% by acquaintances (neighbor, friend, boyfriend, etc.).

• Female victims: Of murders for whom relationships with offenders were known, 34.7% were murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.

• Circumstances: 42.0% of victims were murdered during arguments (including romantic triangles) in 2008. Felony circumstances (rape, robbery, burglary, etc.) accounted for 22.9% of murders. Circumstances were unknown for 35.3% of reported homicides.

Offenders (if known):

• Gender: 90% were males, 10% females.

• Race: 51.5% were black, 46.2% were white, and 2.4% were from other races.

• Type of Weapon: 71.9% involved the use of firearms, of which 88.3% were handguns.

• Justifiable: Law enforcement reported 616 justifiable homicides in 2008. Of those, law enforcement officers justifiably killed 371 individuals, and private citizens justifiably killed 245 individuals.

[babooph]

I guess the criminals cannot afford enough ammo anymore.....

[erasmus111]

by gunownerdan September 14, 2009 3:24 PM EDT
If you are afraid of bad people with guns then whatever you do never outlaw guns because when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have them.


Oh shuuuuut up!

They are talking about what was REPORTED to the police. What about the ones that aren't?

AND I'm quite sure that the statistics for 2009 will show that it has gone WAAAAAAAY up.

[erasmus111]

And whoever researched this report probably belonged to the NRA. Hell, they probably ALL belong to the NRA.

[gunownerdan]

In 2009 Americans are still buying guns and ammo by the truckload so I expect crime to continue falling.
As far as what's reported to the police, most cases of self defense with a gun are not reported for obvious reasons since they very rarely result in shots being fired or anyone getting injured.
That's why some estimates of DGU's(Defensive Gun Uses) are as high as 2.5 million per year!

[ClarkeGrissom]

The statistics are misrepresented, firearms are not used 72% of the time, and not 88% handguns. Any data cited from the FBI report is bogus in this article. Read the report yourself folks, CBS lies.

[gunownerdan]

Most states now let good citizens carry CONCEALED WEAPONS - and the criminals better be affraid!

[rsmik]

I'm afraid of bad citizens carrying concealed weapons

[gunownerdan]

If you are afraid of bad people with guns then whatever you do never outlaw guns because when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have them.

[gunownerdan]

In 2008 Americans purchased something like 15,000,000 new guns.
Coincidence?
I think not!
Criminals prefer unarmed victims.
A-HUMAN-RIGHT . com

[tunaatlast]

come on, people, we can't have a let down in violent crimes. After all, next to Mexico, we are lagging behind in violent crimes.

[woeisme1]

I'd be surprised if those stats fall again this year.

[fedup12]

Naaah, Everyone just laid off cops so we are not catching them as much,