A good article by Mr Paybarah, but he seems to be intentionally skirting the issue - as noted by Mark from Philadelphia - that there is still a large number of murders by guns here in NYC every year, even at these historically low crime rates.
The most recent data I could find, Wikipedia indicated that there were 290 homicides in NYC in 2017. I dare to venture that 90% were probably gun related, almost all hand guns. So, in one year, our City alone had 9x the killings of the Dayton and El Paso mass shootings. Astounding - but a horrific fact that we are numb to across this nation.
White, black, Hispanic, Chinese - what ever ethnicity you want to throw at it, America systemically has a HUGE problem with violence and most specifically with gun violence. And, as a result, we've had to create a large police and penal systems that absorb HUGE amounts of tax dollars. Money that could be spent better in so many ways.
Heartbreaking - we really need to think about how we as a society can better address this problem other than just passing more laws or throwing more tax dollars at law enforcement.
289 homicides last year in NYC. Down from 2,154 in 1991. A remarkable number in a city of over 8 million.
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@Common Sense
this has been my lonely response repeatedly when i bring up this fact
while the mass shootings are terrible - they are really less that 10% of the over all number of gun deaths - this country has a problem that goes way beyond having guns...
our populace is murderous for various reason ( not the because of video games, not because of madness) almost every one of these last few mass shootings were done by persons who purchased their weapons within the boundaries and strictures of the law, and they waited, and plotted
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Most definitions of "mass shootings" do not include those related to some sort of criminal activity. This was a gang beef that--as they often do--impacted innocent people, because the gangbangers involved generally don't seem to care. None of the preventative measures being discussed--universal background checks, red flag laws, assault bans--are relevant here. NYC already has a lot of these in place. And it's not clear to me whether these measures would have significant impact on the illegal handguns that these criminals rely on. Should gangs be classified as domestic terrorists--as white supremacists should be--giving authorities more latitude? Maybe, but someone will likely complain that the rights of these poor, underprivileged fellows are being violated.
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Perhaps there is no causal relationship between better gun laws and fewer mass shootings. Perhaps states with better gun laws have those laws because they have citizens who would not shoot other people. Some people do not need to be told not to kill others. Of course, Missouri shoots holes in that theory. (Pun intended.)
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So the number of people who have gotten shot increased from last year. So how does Mayor DeButthead say crime is down? Maybe it's down where his gym is located. We have to find out where the guns are coming from that are being used to murder people in this city and then go after the gun sellers. Unless it impacts somebody in government, I don't think anything will be done until then. How many more people have to die?
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@Sherri Rosen - "where his gym is located."
These are the operative words about our Mayor in this second term. There are a lot of complaints you can make about what Mayor Bill does and does not do, but I think we can agree, he does look very fit doing it (or not doing it).
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In 1991, as a young Brooklyn assistant district attorney, I was given a shirt by police officers from the 75th Precinct. The shirt reads, “welcome to Brooklyn norths 75 Precinct {with a picture of a Skull and cross bones} You give us 22 minutes and we’ll give you a homicide”. Seems like nothing has changed.
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You are sorely mistaken. In 1991 I think there were 2,154 homicides in nyc. Last year there were 289.
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The gun violence problem in NYC will never go away as long as there are humans. This goes for the entire planet. The other gun problem in this city is that there are three classes of people with guns: law enforcement, the rich and connected, and last but not least: thugs. Law abiding citizens are at the mercy of time. When a thug pulls a gun on you, there is no time to wait for the police to protect you. More often than not people are found dead by the police. Where is the justice in this?
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Much appreciation to the author for addressing urban crime. Mass shootings, while tragic, are a fraction of all shootings in the United States. Probably about 1 percent.
Understandably, terms like bigotry and white nationalism seize the headlines. But progressives (like myself) are reluctant to discuss the unacceptably high crime rate in the African American community lest they be perceived as racist.
African Americans comprise half of all murder victims and commit half of all murders. Let’s address this crisis.
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On a lighter side, if there is one: I am wondering whether "The Republican Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NRA" is going to become one of those statements that people who don't feel the implied smiley-face might take as literal rather than a metaphor.
We're in a society where millions of TV viewers grew up with the "Odd Couple" Password episode saying that "Aristophanes is ridiculous" - and a decent number of young people reported that for years, they thought "ridiculous" was what "Aristophanes" meant. Taking things literally can happen.
“The center says there is a direct correlation between stricter gun laws and fewer deaths by guns.” Their own website seems to belie that statement. This is a societal problem that does not have a single solution.
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The main reason why the Republicans will hardly ever call out gun violence or any other major shootings is because they get their endorsements from the NRA. If that were stopped, then they would see them for who they really are. However, the NRA will play dirty and try to make a primary opponent that will do their bidding if picked. In reality, calling for gun safety or gun control isn't trying to repeal the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution, it's about making sure that the most dangerous people don't get such weapons or ammunition, which is why we have something such as the Brady Bill in the first place. Even the 1917 Supreme Court case known as Schenk vs US stated that US Constitutional rights aren't absolute and that there are limits to them. Let's not forget that when it comes to shootings the NRA hardly ever calls out the shooters, which makes me think if the ones doing the said shootings are possibly one of their members and that they can't go after their literal brothers in arms.
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Just a point, the NRA is powerful because many people support them and what they stand for. Yes, gun manufacturers support them but if Americans didn’t buy guns there would be no money to spend. You can disagree and gun laws can be changed but that alone is not going to solve the problem.
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After the recent spate of gun violence across the country and its horrific results, I've reached my capacity to process it all clearly. Which is why I'm happy to change the subject for a minute to report the wonderful news of a beaver-sighting here on the UWS -- and while I didn't see it personally, the NYT has a lovely article and photo in the New York section of today's paper.
(But I did know it's New York's official state animal).
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I recall a wonderful New Yorker cover that clearly had been inspired by Dean & DeLuca. A woman stands in front of a series of cases displaying perfect vegetables as if they were jewels.
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@Lifelong Reader - That's beautiful. A store’s folding doesn’t erase what it meant in its good times, does it?
The memories of what they were stay - to customers of course, but especially to all the other businesses who had done well and even grew, dealing with them all the years?
Tune of “Friends theme song” (I'll Be There For You)
So no one told us that your stores had gone away
We shipped you stuff,
And now it’s rough that you can’t pay.
Looks like we took a loss on what we sent
But for decades now,
We never told you what your being there meant
‘Cause -
You were there for us
When our business was new
You were there for us
And you helped get us through.
You were there for us
And we’re grateful to you.
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IMHO we in NY have the proper level of gun control. No concealed handguns in urban areas. No assault rifles or high volume firing guns. Background checks to keep guns away from violent felons or those with emotional problems. Otherwise, most adults are able to own guns an hopefully act responsibility. Folks can hunt, shot recreationally and protect their homes. Personally, I now live in a rural area and do not own a firearm--but I could if I so desired.
Why this moderate and responsible level of gun control is so hard to accomplish in other areas of the country is unfortunate. I think part of the problem is that people believe, with some justification, that should they allow any level of gun control, the wolf has been let into the hen house, and stricter gun control levels will follow. If it could be established that further control would not follow, many gun owners might agree to reasonable restrictions.
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And yet, Billy, despite our city gun-control laws, of which I heartily approve, we have shootings regularly, on cue. 1010-WINS tells me so.
The whole country needs sane gun and ammunition laws and background checks. But the number of guns and stashes of ammunition already out there are staggering. And the GOP diehards are prostitutes to the NRA.
Here in New York City, in our most crime-ridden neighborhoods, I'd bring back a modified stop and frisk. We can't let these young men shoot one another every weekend. They end up wounding or killing bystanders.
Throughout the country, we might need metal detectors in shopping malls and schools. Maybe the FBI needs to treat neo-Nazi groups the same way they do Muslim terrorist cells.
Maybe people acquainted with the sort of young men who are likely to kill their sisters, girlfriends, parents, and co-workers, who need to be watched, should speak up sooner than after the fact.
In all cases, both law enforcement and good citizens will go overboard. What's the answer?
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You are not familiar with New York gun laws. Also almost all shootings are with handguns.
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@Billy from Brooklyn: I hear you, but I don't think gun owners are nearly as reasonable as you believe them to be.
I think the NRA is basically a form of the mob - they "control" the whole gun conversation and when something bad happens, they always have some mealy-mouthed meaningless statement. Like Trump, they take no responsibility, but they're well practiced at promoting the idea that everyone should live in terror of everyone else. I personally think the NRA's entire ethos is paranoia: without a gun, they feel scared of every other person on the planet - which is crazy!
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