, Columnist
Why Is the U.S. Murder Rate Spiking?
Periods of political instability are very dangerous.
There may be a pattern to an era’s crime rate.
Photographer: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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In recent months, statistics on violent crime have confirmed a troubling trend: Homicide rates in the U.S., long on the wane, shot upward in 2020. Early signs suggest it’s continuing. Many cities have reported new spikes in murder rates in early 2021.
Many commentators blame the pandemic for the violence. Others attribute the spike to record-breaking gun purchases or claim that protests against police brutality have undercut effective law enforcement, opening the door to mayhem.