The latest federal data on crime in the United States, recently collected by the Pew Research Center, shows that violent crime and property crime have fallen sharply over the past quarter century. On the surface a rising murder rate might appear to give some credence to claims of “American carnage” and the like. Trump and some of his supporters have discussed the 2015 murder numbers in near-apocalyptic terms. “American carnage” is an inaccurate way to characterize a murder rate that remains at a low level not seen since the 1960s. Pew's research shows that the sustained drop in overall crime is sharply at odds with Americans' perceptions.

Source: Washington Post February 22, 2017 18:12 UTC