Crime stats

One issue which crops up in the gun control debate is the oft-cited claim that according to FBI crime stats, rates of homicide have been steadily declining for the past 40 years. And this, in turn, is attributed to tighter gun control laws.

However, I’ve read various sources which indicate the reported decline in murder rates is due to better trauma care, which enables more gunshot victims to survive.  By definition, the victim has to die for that to be classified and counted as a homicide. So what percentages have changed–gunshot victims or gunshot fatalities?

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1124155/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324712504578131360684277812.html

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/docs_have_the_rx_for_slay_raps_vXXckFq3Dl9v39F92QkPQL

http://m.jems.com/article/news/advances-trauma-care-keep-dayt

cms-int.amherst.edu/media/view/7748/original/Norton05.pdf