Return of the Elephant

Some startling trends can be seen in the latest national homicide data. From 2002 to 2006, the rate of murder committed by black male teens rose 52%, with a smaller but significant increase among black male young adults and black women. In contrast, there was no increase among whites of any age.

Gang-related homicides have crept upward in recent years, virtually returning to the peak of the early 1990s. Since 2002, gun killings have climbed 13% overall — but 42% among teens and 71% among black teenage males — while non-gun homicides have essentially remained unchanged.

I guess that pesky elephant has no intention of leaving.

No wonder "urban lawmakers" are so upset. If true solutions were applied, they'd be irrelevant.

[Via Bruce Mills]