Violence is America

DO NOT VOTE ON THIS DEBATE I think helping my opponent with schoolwork should not mean either of us should lose. Instead of writing my opponents paper for him, which I could certainly do (though I do not like cheating) I will ask a question and give him some research links. 1. What can you argue? Can you argue we are getting less violent? It is impossible to argue crime is increasing. So I will give you links on why we are less violent. 1) San Diego FBI reports cities west of New Mexico are experiencing large violent crime declines: http://www.fbi.gov... 2) All crime categories are facing a decrease in crime since the 1990s http://en.wikipedia.org... 3) All scholars agree crime is decreasing, the question is why. Steven Levitt and Donahue have argued legalizing abortion is responsible for 50% of the decline. http://www.google.com... The theory quickly was attacked in scholarly circles. D. Patton in 2008 showed Abortion increased crime in foreign countries and likely would have the same effect in the US. http://www.voxeu.org... In reply to the original paper by Donahue and Levitt, John Lott and John Whitley argued abortion had no effect at best, and likely increased murder by 7%. http://www.google.com... Ted Joyce, the most vocal against Levitt, showed many methodological flaws in his work. Levitt and Donahue defended their study, however, in 2004. http://www.google.com... Joyce ad many other articles. The most modern one in 2009 defended his analysis and further debunked Levitt. http://www.nber.org... Steve Sailer and Levitt where the first to debate the topic in 1999. Levitt argued abortion was the 1990s decrease. Sailer offered data from other academics arguing the end of the crack-cocaine epidemic, more capital punishment, and conceal carry laws reduced the crime--not abortion. The debate can be found here: http://www.isteve.com... In 2005, two economists found computer errors in Levitts results which where accounting for other variables. However the computer error made it so the variable was not controlled. Once controlled for, no abortion effect was found. http://www.bos.frb.org... Levitt responded to the study in his blog. http://www.freakonomics.com... However Ted Joyce in many of his other papers found similar errors which Levitt failed to refute (and when he did, usually in his blog, Joyce would just publish another study refuting the blog post). Other reasons crime dropped have been offered. John Lott in 1997 argued cal carry laws reduce crime by large margins, about 8%. This may not be the WHOLE decrease, but its a sizable chunk. http://www.google.com... His study got a lot of flak. Black and Nagin refuted his analysis, however John Lott in his book "More Guns Less crime" Responds to all criticisms keeping his study valid. Source: Lott, John R. "More Guns Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws." Donahue (Lott and Donahue must hate each other...) Argued in a long law review in 2002 conceal carry increases crime, or has no effect, and the John Lott study was flawed. http://www.google.com... Lott responded the same year with two other economists which show systemic statistical flaws in their study, and also noted no analysis has replicated Donahue's work. John Lott was replicated already by many scholars. They showed no increase in crime exists, and the study was bogus. http://www.google.com... Moody and Marvel in 2008 further reinforce the idea Donahue's study is flawed and their results are almost carbon copies of John Lott. http://www.google.com... John Lott continues the debate in 2012 defending his work. http://www.google.com... Note CCW is not ALL of the decrease. John Lott argues increased execution also played a large role of the crime decrease in the 90s and 2000s. http://www.foxnews.com... Most studies have shown a deterrent effect of the DP, and moratoriums increase crime. http://www.washingtonpost.com... The DPIC argues these studies are flawed. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org... However, the studies they criticize have been defended by their authors. http://www.cjlf.org... All of this is good, however it still leaves the question: Two small effects, where is the big chunk that decreased 60% of the crime? It was found higher arrest rates, conviction rates, and a change in demographic lowered most of the crime. http://champpenal.revues.org... So what lowered the crime based on valid evidence? 1) Higher arrest and conviction rates 2) A change in demographic 3) Higher DP usage 4) Liberalized conceal carry laws. I hoped this helped. REMEMBER DON'T VOTE