Chicago Crime Down?

That's what Hot Air is reporting this morning, citing recent stats that lead us to an inescapable conclusion. From the source article:

Since Illinois started granting concealed carry permits this year, the number of robberies that have led to arrests in Chicago has declined 20 percent from last year, according to police department statistics. Reports of burglary and motor vehicle theft are down 20 percent and 26 percent, respectively. In the first quarter, the city’s homicide rate was at a 56-year low.

That's certainly good news, but we have to ask if there were any other changes that might account for the lowering crime numbers.

“It isn’t any coincidence crime rates started to go down when concealed carry was permitted. Just the idea that the criminals don’t know who’s armed and who isn’t has a deterrence effect,” said Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association. “The police department hasn’t changed a single tactic — they haven’t announced a shift in policy or of course — and yet you have these incredible numbers.”

So, the only change we see is that the state allows concealed carry, and crime numbers are dropping.  That's a pretty good indicator of what is driving the change in the numbers.

Any good news out of Chicago is good news indeed, and having changed just a single law, the crime rate drops  For many of the folks on my side of the debate, it's a stunning reinforcement of our belief that gun rights save lives.

Let Freedom Ring!