Start of leaded gasoline bans:
1970
Roe vs Wade:
1973
This was the research done by Freakonomics!
We estimate that crime fell roughly 20% between 1997 and 2014 due to legalized abortion. The cumulative impact of legalized abortion on crime is roughly 45%, accounting for a very substantial portion of the roughly 50-55% overall decline from the peak of crime in the early 1990s.
Podcast revisiting this research with sources at the bottom:
https://freakonomics.com/podcast/abortion-and-crime-revisited/This is the revisited research paper showing the connection (PDF):
https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/BFI_WP_201975.pdf
While yes, it’s most likely not a significant factor in the drop in crime:
Systematic reviews / meta-analysis
The first meta-analysis of the lead-crime hypothesis was published in 2022. “The Lead-Crime Hypothesis: A Meta-Analysis”, authored by Anthony Higney, Nick Hanley, and Mirko Moro consolidates findings of 24 studies on the subject. It found that there is substantial evidence linking lead exposure to a heightened risk of criminal behavior, particularly violent crimes. This aligns with earlier research suggesting lead exposure may foster impulsive and aggressive tendencies, potential precursors to violent offenses. The study concluded that, while a correlation between declining lead pollution and declining criminality is supported by research, it is likely not a significant factor in reduced crime rates, and that the link is generally overstated in lead-crime literature.
The study’s implications point towards the potential benefits of reducing lead exposure to decrease crime rates. Such reductions could be achieved through initiatives like removing lead from products like gasoline and paint, water pipes and enhancing lead abatement measures in schools and residences.
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Next you’ll be telling me murderers don’t love ice cream.
Who doesn’t love ice cream?
Murderers. Keep up.
Their feelings don’t care about your facts
The problem is that the news keeps hounding the police for arrest headlines to run every night
Like do we actually need to hear what specific crimes are being committed by complete randos every day if it isn’t changing the commute?
What specific public interest is served by every day announcing the specific crimes that were committed that day?
Local news lost a lot of eyes to the 24 hour news channels so they want to report the absolute most eye grabbing thing they can so they can sell eyeballs to advertisers. The big channels need to fill space in their 24 hour cycle so they blow shit way the fuck up. They also thrive on every election being a horse race and polarization.
The joke years ago was that the news always had shit like “Could your tap water be killing you? Watch News at 10 to find out!” Then you couldn’t drink tap water until 10 because it might kill you. That doesn’t hold up anymore so now it’s any random crime they can report on.
Yeah that’s kinda my point, the 24 hour news cycle itself is what’s causing this. It needs to be cut back at to a morning and evening edition and if you publish outside those windows too often you don’t get to call yourself or present yourself as a news or news commentary organization.
Just removing lead from gas made such a difference
I’m traveling to NYC in a few weeks with my family. My parents are shocked to hear we are using the subway. I told them not to worry, I left the cat to them in my will.
Explain that to my mother who watches Fox News.
Sure. What’s her phone number? Is she hot?
What a rude thing to say. Of course she’s smoking
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Committing crime is getting too expensive, just like everything else.
It’s just capitalism. Corporations have the monopoly in committing crimes these days because they usually get away with it.
Ah man… facts. Dont do facts thats crazy /s
For me…it’s bears.
NO. NO MORE BEARS. I BEG YOU.
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Crimes have to be reported and accepted as crimes to be considered crimes in crime statistics.
Edit: wow this criticism of police went terribly. Kinda surprised.
So the crime rate was probably even higher before smart phones and social media.
Maybe. But, I’ve filed several police reports in the past couple years. Things like car break-ins, firearm brandishing on the freeway, package theft with enough info to easily catch them, etc. no one ever calls back. It’s a good thing I don’t need “god” to be good haha.
