Need some input here

[PeteCamp]

My memory may be bad, but I seem to remember a study I saw based on land area of major cities that gave indication of how many uniformed officers / patrol cars were present in each square mile. The rationale was that denser cities were easier to effect a police presence in than were cities with large numbers of square miles. If that is true, then NYC is one of the "smallest" major population centers on earth.

I think I need another cup of coffee.

[seamusTX]

This is probably a factor. Also, NYPD does not use patrol cars as much as (for example) Houston. Much of NYC is a 24-hour-a-day traffic jam, limiting the use of vehicles.

NYPD has more foot patrols than most jurisdictions in the U.S., and they are pretty aggressive about questioning suspicious characters. This questioning often involves Terry searches that lead to arrests for illegal weapons.

- Jim

[dadoo]

Statistics are funny things that can be manipulated to give an intended outcome. Showing numbers of deaths is meaningless unless it is as a percentage of population. Here's a good site with information that can be usefull:
http://www.statemaster.com/graph/cri_mu ... er-100-000" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The chart shows that Wash D.C. with some of the most restrictive gun laws, has a rate of 31/100,000 population, while Texas is at 11/100,000.

Google-Fu requires google-size daily, grasshopper

[seamusTX]

"Firearms death rate" is not the same as the homicide or murder rate -- far from it.

Firearms deaths include criminal homicides, suicides (which in some states exceed homicides), accidents, and justifiable homicides.

The source of the Statemaster data is here: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/compare ... =2&ind=113" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The overall homicide rate is for all causes. While the majority of homicides in the U.S. are committed with firearms, knives and other means are significant.

- Jim

[marksiwel]

It is important to know what is reported as murder. Suicides are quite often reported as murder as an example of why it isn't a good idea to put too much reliance of stats.

dont forget manslaughter too!

[Dragonfighter]

If someone attacks me in NYC I have a LOWER PROBABILITY of effectively repeling/stopping that attack than I do if the same person attacks me in the same manner in any state that allows civilian concealed carry. Period.

Well said sir.