Loosening Gun Control May Have Dropped Homicide Rates

 A recent Zero Hedge article asks the question, "Did Loosening Gun Control Cause A Nationwide Drop In Homicides?" From the lede:

    According to a recent study, the homicide rate in the United States plummeted in 2023. The drop was so drastic in fact, the study's author was quoted saying that this is likely one of the fastest declines in homicides ever recorded.

    But is there a reason for the decline? We think so. It's possible that the removal of gun control may have played a critical role in this decline.

The article notes that in 2022, the Supreme Court issued it's decision in Bruen which essentially required "shall issue" standards for concealed carry permits instead of the "may issue" of a few recalcitrant blue states. "Following this ruling," the article relates, "there was a massive surge in concealed carry permit applications in states known for tight regulations, like Maryland, California, and New York." "In addition, more states like Nebraska and Alabama adopted constitutional carry laws in 2023, while Florida passed a law allowing permitless carry. This all happened while the homicide rate nationwide drastically decreased."