Just The Facts!
...according to the Numbers.
C2M Data Book
Fact
The U.S. murder rate is at its highest level in nearly two and half decades. There were 21,570 murders nationwide in 2020, up nearly 30% from the previous year — the largest annual increase on record.
Fact
The murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer rattled confidence in American law enforcement and sparked nationwide protests. The confidence level has yet to recover. Firearm sales soared, resulting in the proliferation of tens of millions of new guns.
Fact
Since 1999, the first full year for which the FBI collected data, gun sales have risen annually. In 1999, 9,183,123 sales were recorded. Last year, the figure reached 39,695,315 — up from 28,369,750 in 2019. In addition, gun sales through the first eight months of 2021 totaled 27,841,219, compared to 26,756,487 in the same period last year.
Fact
Police in Memphis reported 297 homicides in 2024, a significant drop from 397 in 2023. The city's 2024 crime report states that homicides are down 30% compared to the prior periods.
Fact
Memphis police, those usually on hand first to glean initial details of the crime, says gang-related violence is a minor factor. To the extent that is definitively known, gang violence accounts for roughly 13% of homicides in Memphis.