[benVFR]

There are studies from both side but the point is from either side they can be debated, both sides have issues with the research, and both sides manipulate the data they choose.

You can't take 2 studies and use them as anything meaningful, just like I can't take 2 from the other side. (And I can bury this thread in a mountain of links very quickly if I want to, it's a waste of time.)

There is no consensus at all in the wide range of studies out there.

NYC is a bad one for you to cite. Even if it is still more dangerous then Austin and Atlanta (very different demographics and city size anyway), NYC has had drastic reductions in crime at the same time the gun laws were made more strict & the police force was enlarged.

Widen your view and you will see Texas and Georgia do not have lower overall crime rates then California and New York. Different? Yes. Better overall? No. New York has the best case at being the safest with the lowest crime.

Rates per 100,000 in 2005. (Newest data available, all from US DOJ)

California
Violent Crimes: 526.3
Murders: 6.9
Forcible Rapes: 26.0
Robberies: 176.1
Aggravated Assault: 317.3
Property Crimes: 3,322.6
Burglaries: 693.3
Larceny: 1,916.5
Motor Vehicle Theft: 712.8

Georgia:
Violent Crimes: 448.9
Murders: 6.2
Forcible Rapes: 23.6
Robberies: 154.8
Aggravated Assualt: 264.3
Property Crimes: 4,172.3
Burglaries: 931.0
Larceny: 2,751.1
Motor Vehicle Theft: 490.2

Texas
Violent Crime: 529.7
Murders: 6.2
Forcible Rapes: 37.2
Robberies: 156.6
Aggravated Assault: 329.8
Property Crimes: 4,332.0
Burglaries: 961.6
Larceny: 2,961.7
Motor Vehicle Theft: 408.7

New York
Violent Crime: 445.8
Murders: 4.5
Forcible Rape: 18.9
Robbery: 182.7
Aggravated Assault: 239.7
Property Crime: 2,108.5
Burglaries: 353.3
Larceny: 1,569.6
Motor Vehicle Theft: 185.6

WHY on earth haven't all the criminals moved to NY with it's strict gun control laws? They're missing out on preying on all those unarmed sheep!

Why on earth all those armed women in Texas raped so much more often?

Why don't all those armed citizens in GA and TX contribute to lower property crime?

Look at the data yourself instead of reading something that's being fed to you by someone with a set viewpoint. When you read something from a policy group or a think tank that has a viewpoint they're paid to push they just pick and choose what supports their agenda.

NCPA is a conservative lobbying group that has a non-surprising list of sponsors & funding arrangements. No surprise at all they would find what they found.

Fraser Institute outright tells you their purpose for being is to push for small government, again no surprise.

These are not reliable sources, they just pull data together from other sources and package it to support their viewpoints.