enefits to these such crimes and even petty crimes such as street muggings will likely find "the perpetrator [in jail] before he equals a year's income from a minimum wage job."(48).Through his research, Rubenstein follows the rise and fall of all crime rates since the turn of the century and how, if at all, they are affected by the nations economy. During most of the Great Depression, one of the most devastating times in american history, employment rates were at their lowest. However, during the darkest time of this period "1935 [to] 1940, the murder rate dropped nearly 40%."(49) Again in the early 1960's, when unemployment rates were high, crime was at an all-time low. By the end of the decade these statistics completely reversed themselves. "As the economy revived, so did the crime rate."(49)David Rubenstein's article about the relationship, or lack there of, between crime rates and unemployment rates is, in my opinion, extremely well researched, thought out, and worded in a way that the reader can understand without running for a dictionary. It is truly an insightful and educational article until he reaches his closing paragraphs. Here Rubenstein begins to compare the crimes occurring in places such as South Central Los Ellison 9Angeles to a 1960's "neighborhood in San Francisco [who] had the lowest income... highest unemployment... least education... [the most] substandard housing...tuberculosis", so on and so forth.(50) The little California town referred to was Chinatown. This to me was not a good basis for comparison, especially when Rubenstein states that "...in 1965 there were only five persons of Chinese ancestry committed to prison in the entire state of California."(50). This statement does not support his theory pertaining to economic background as here he is comparing two different ethnic backgrounds and/or neighborhoods. At the end Rubenstein fizzles when he could have gone out with a bang.Ellison 10HANDGUN BANS: FAC...
