Whether one examines the District’s murder rates relative to other large US cities, the neighboring states of Maryland and Virginia, or relative to the US as a whole there is no evidence that the ban reduced the District’s relative murder rate. Indeed, if anything, the evidence points to the opposite conclusion. The District’s rising murder rate cannot be explained as a result of the crack cocaine epidemic during the late 1980s because this increase started occurring right after the ban was instituted, long before crack cocaine became an issue.

Everyone wants to disarm criminals. However, the problem with bans is who is most likely to obey them. If the ban primarily disarms lawabiding citizens and not criminals, the ban can have the opposite effect of what was intended.

Richard E. Gardiner
February 2007
BRIEF OF ACADEMICS AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF RESPONDENT
[I really liked reading this one. The comparision data was represented as ratios between D.C. and other areas (such as large cities, nearby states, etc.) over time. Usually I see the data represented as absolute numbers. The ratio representation is a good tool.–Joe]