This is Murder

Unfortunately, the murder rate in New Orleans has come way down from earlier this year. But the good news is there is still a chance for a new American record. Let's take a look.

First, some perspective. The highest murder rate ever for the country as a whole occurred in the year of our me, 1984, and stands at 10.2 per 100,000 people. In case you're wondering, that's 18,700 murders out of a population of 236 million. The murder rate hovered around 9 until it started dropping in the mid nineties, and since 1999 it has been under 6. Still there?

In 1991, Washington D.C., the "murder capital" of the United States, and a nasty place I'm sure, had a murder rate of 80 (Jesus H Christ, that's high!). Over the last ten years or so it has gradually declined to an acceptable--if you live in war zone--35. (in 2005, 195 murders - pop-550,000) I'm trying to hurry.

Real quick. Dallas, just your run of the mill high crime city, has a murder rate of 17.

Now for the good stuff. In 1994 New Orleans set a U.S. homicide record to be proud of. Out of a population of about 500,000 upstanding folks, 425 murders were committed. That, my friend, translates into a homicide rate of a whopping 86. Highest ever in our country. They stand alone, dead. The murder rate in New Orleans has been so high for so long that Louisiana is the only state in the land that has had a double digit murder rate for at least ten years running. And it's not even close. But wait, I've got more.

As of Monday there have been 34 murders recorded in New Orleans so far this year. If my homies can maintain this pace they will finish with a homicide rate of...you ready for this?...ok...97! (Fireworks) The numbers would look like this--population 200,000 -- murders 194 = new national record. I think it's steroids.