No Boom In Black Teen Homicides: Freakonomics Author

Freakonomics author Steven Levitt dismissed a new study that points to a sharp rise in homicides by black teens in recent years.

The study's author, noted criminologist James Alan Fox of Northeastern University, blamed gang activity and lax gun laws as some of the main reasons.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Lahonda]

The financial meltdown has certainly affected the rise in crime-related deaths. The gun law and drug control changes we need are unlikely to occur rapidly, but over time and with the lack of budget funding forcing significant change, we may soon see the day where people aren't thrown in prison for the sake of societal misconceptions as to how to solve this complex issue.

[blaharumph]

houston?

[ElPerro]

"According to Fox's study, posted at www.jfox.neu.edu, in the past eight years in Chicago, homicides by white offenders ages 14 to 24 fell 47 percent while homicides by black offenders in the same age group fell 30 percent.

Nationally, homicides by offenders in that age group have fallen significantly in most other cities of than 1 million people but have generally increased in smaller cities."

...You know, those "small cities that Sarah Palin claims are the "real America"

[Knowitall]

Anyone who lived through the 80's and early '90's, the "good ol' Reagan/Bush days knows that teen homicides are way down across the board. The current slight rise is inevitable during an economic downturn. We should see an increase in domestic violence, armed robbery, alcohol and drug related crimes, etc. among all demographic and age groups because of the stress related to loss of jobs and economic uncertainty. It's inevitable, and shouldn't be a surprise to those in government.

[BSERIUS]

"Lax Gun Laws" ? This guy is allowed to teach? Cities have the toughest gun laws... And you think Black teens would obey stronger gun laws? Chicago was the murder capital of the US with most of the crimes black on black ... Leavitt is the atrypical lib apologist

[amistad]

....and you are the typical right wing b*ggot.....

[loveobamas]

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU TALKING ABOUT.

[Shieldmaiden]

Wow. Missed the weekly c.ross b urnings I see...

[vjoseph]

Well then, if this isn't a good case to legalize drugs, than nothing will change people perceptions against the war on drugs

[zizyphus]

Keeping poor people locked up is big business.

[robXdion]

Why isn't this on the main page or politics page like the articles claiming THERE WAS a black teen homicide increase? HP you give the appearance of gloating over black dysfunctions while hiding retractions or opposing viewpoints.

[vjoseph]

Because it contradicts their views