Do armed citizens help decrease crime? Detroit police chief and Ohio attorney general say YES
Detroit Police Chief James Craig is giving his city's armed residents - the law-abiding ones - credit for a large drop in crime, and Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine agrees, telling WKEF (ABC Dayton) it just might keep the bad guys away.
First, from the Detroit News:
Detroit has experienced 37 percent fewer robberies in 2014 than during the same period last year, 22 percent fewer break-ins of businesses and homes, and 30 percent fewer carjackings. Craig attributed the drop to better police work and criminals being reluctant to prey on citizens who may be carrying guns.
“Criminals are getting the message that good Detroiters are armed and will use that weapon,” said Craig, who has repeatedly said he believes armed citizens deter crime. “I don’t want to take away from the good work our investigators are doing, but I think part of the drop in crime, and robberies in particular, is because criminals are thinking twice that citizens could be armed.
“I can’t say what specific percentage is caused by this, but there’s no question in my mind it has had an effect,” Craig said.
Craig's observations are causing politicians and members of the media in other states to ponder the question - if it's working there, can it work here?
From WKEF:
"I think more people are arming themselves," said Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine,
Attorney General DeWine would know.
His office keeps track of how many concealed carry permits are granted in the State of Ohio.
"We have seen a continuous increase of people who are getting their concealed carry permit," he said.
...
"I would hope that that would cause some of the burglars and some of the robbers to have a second thought, hey that man behind the counter, that woman behind the counter, she may have a gun," said Ohio Attorney General DeWine.
Chad D. Baus is the Buckeye Firearms Association Secretary, BFA PAC Vice Chairman, and an NRA-certified firearms instructor. He is the editor of BuckeyeFirearms.org, which received the Outdoor Writers of Ohio 2013 Supporting Member Award for Best Website.
Additional Information:
- 1150 reads
