Firearm Crimes Drop, But Still High

0:00Stats Canada just dropped data showing 2024 had the biggest drop in fire-arm-related violent crimes in 10 years. That's a 4.2% dip from 2023, down to 36 incidents per 100,000 people from 37. 6. Solid news on the surface, but let's keep it real. Even with that decline, rates are still 44% higher than 10 years back when it was 25 per 100,000. The big picture, violent crime with guns has been climbing since the mid-2000s and tens overall. Breaks down different across Canada. Alberta and most of British Columbia saw sharp drops with Prince Edward Island down 46%, BC at 22, and Alberta 14. Territories fell 14% too after a peak, but Toronto jumped 12% to its highest in 15 years at 44.8% per 100,000, and spots like Newfoundland up, 31%. Digging deeper, specific crimes eased up, hostage situations down, 15%, sexual assaults

1:02with guns, 13%, robberies 8.8, and shooting homicides, 5.6% for the second year running. Handguns were in 49% of cases, though their rate dropped again after peaking in 2022. Nearly 6 and 10 accused in these crimes had prior violent offenses since 2018, way higher than non-gun cases. Prince Link 29% of their violence to firearms, while some areas cool off, the long-term rise reminds us the work ain't done. Stay sharp out there. You've been listening to Canada News today, AI-powered local news.