"Crime did rise nationwide in 2020 and 2021. The disruption caused by a deadly pandemic, a record increase in the availability of guns, a pullback of policing i

"Crime did rise nationwide in 2020 and 2021. The disruption caused by a deadly pandemic, a record increase in the availability of guns, a pullback of policing in some cities and perhaps other factors combined to create a surge in homicides and other crimes." Why not look at those one by one? Guns last basically forever, so I don't see how a spike in purchases followed by a drop in purchases would explain a spike and then a drop in crime. The guns are presumably still around. Next, a pull-back in policing in 2020 may have reversed somewhat by now. A bad DA in SF was recalled. It's plausible that this explains at least a part of the spike followed by the drop. I'd be interested in hearing other explanations. Maybe the criminals are busy with other things (jobs, etc.)? Maybe the free flowing pandemic cash drying up means less money to fight over? Maybe criminal-enablers (drug users, etc.) are busy with other stuff?