Compared to other developed countries with high rates of gun ownership, we have a uniquely high rate of gun crime. This is an important issue, but I believe it is dishonestly framed. The United States has a crime problem, and given our overall crime rate, gun crime is not anomalously high. This would indicate that the gun crime rate is more or less correlated to the overall crime rate, meaning that a lower overall rate should decrease gun crime occurrence as well. This will be part 2 in a series on certain changes I think we should make and why so as to reduce our crime rates.
In a 2002 Study which looked at the US from 1979-1997, it was found that poverty and unemployment was a strong predictor of criminality. This trend was also established in a UN Office on Drugs and Crime study which analyzed crime trends across 15 countries in relation to employment rate and poverty. Having a criminal record makes it considerably harder to find a job, rent housing, or get many of the services we consider necessary. It is very easy to end up poor, homeless, and desperate if you cannot get a job, house, loans, or a car. Not only did those affected unethically lose portions of their lives and property, but they are permanently marked for their "offenses". These people deserve the fair chance that the market would provide.
Release is also extremely important because as men sit in prison (yes criminals are majority male), there are potentially a great many children being raised by single mothers. A fatherless home has been linked to a series of horrific consequences for the children, most notably addiction, poverty, behavioral problems, delinquency, and suicidality. A full list and sources can be found here. Keeping more people locked up will only secure a second generation of crime.
Until next time,
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