In 1880 in New York State, e.g., about four blacks were imprisoned for every white — today, that ratio is 12:1. The white crime level is very low in absolute terms, but something interesting has happened to the (always higher) black crime rate, which was level from 1880 to 1960.

Starting in 1965-70, it took off — vertically. And what happened in that time, ladies and gentlemen? Yes, that’s right: LBJ’s “Great Society” initiative and the vast expansion of the Welfare State.

Fathers leaving families; men no longer marrying women. In the black community, that is: in the white community, the crime rate has remained fairly steady at its comparatively low levels.

In 1880: just over 200 blacks were in jail per 100,000 population.
In 1960: just over 250.
In 2000: about 1,200 blacks per 100,000 population.

That’s an almost 500% increase in 40 years. Five Hundred Percent.

(Source: M. Alexander, The New Jim Crow, 2010. Alexander ascribes this radical increase in criminal behavior to white “racism.” But it used to be much worse: so let’s have another hypothesis, shall we?)

There were no accidents and no one, not a single kid, ever considered misusing their rifle. It was a better, more rational, and sane era. Coming from that era I accept no authority over my right to possess and use firearms in a legal, responsible matter.

As for the homicide rate versus guns laws; the most obvious conclusion is that those states with tough gun laws enacted them because of the high murder rates and not that the gun laws make no difference. Without the tough laws the murder rates could be higher. There are no statistics showing what did not happen.

Remember the saying, statistics are like psychologists at a trial, they testify for both sides. That sounds more refined than the traditional, lies, damn lies and statistics.

But the root problem is culture. By culture I do not mean movies, video games, etc. I blame the cultural breakdown in the black community, the absence of a committed father is the norm, and couple this with poor education and little incentive to work hard, it is rather simple to explain why the vast majority of our homicides involve young blacks killing young blacks.

Beyond the black community; there is in general a degree of shallowness in much of home life were busy parents and busy children rarely interact beyond here’s the microwave meal, now lets watch TV before you do your home work and go to bed. Next, society no longer introduces the young to the safe and constructive use of firearms. A lot of that comes from the change from a rural society to an urban one. And then there is the overall lack of politeness and an over abundance of rude and offensive public behavior.

Sorry if I rambled.