Cold weather is murder

[LDB]

A Tale of Two Cities

Chicago, IL
Houston, TX

Population
Chicago, IL 2.7 million
Houston, TX 2.15 million

Median HH Income
Chicago, IL $38,600
Houston, TX $37,000

% African-American
Chicago, IL 38.9%
Houston, TX 24%

% Hispanic
Chicago, IL 29.9%
Houston, TX 44%

% Asian
Chicago, IL 5.5%
Houston, TX 6%

% Non-Hispanic White
Chicago, IL 28.7%
Houston, TX 26%

Fairly similar until you compare the following:


Concealed Carry gun law
Chicago, IL no
Houston, TX yes

# of Gun Stores
Chicago, IL 0
Houston, TX 184 - Dedicated gun stores plus 1500 - legal places to buy guns- Walmart, K-mart, sporting goods, etc.

Homicides, 2012
Chicago, IL 1,806
Houston, TX 207

Homicides per 100K
Chicago, IL 38.4
Houston, TX 9.6

Avg. January high temperature (F)
Chicago, IL 31
Houston, TX 63

Conclusion: Cold weather causes murder.

 

[aristotle]

The conclusion that cold weather causes murder is not supported by the statistics given because not all homicides constitute murder. Murder is a criminal form of homicide. Some homicides are accidental or justifiable, whereas no murders are accidental or legally justified since murder is directly related to intent.

An observer would need the murder rate, not the homicide rate, to make a conclusion about murder.

 

[aristotle]

LDB, do you have a source for the stats in the original post? Considering Chicago and Houston are similar in population size, the disparity in homicide rates is alarming if accurate. There would have to be many factors, other than weather, contributing to the homicide rate in Chicago.

 

[RLENT]

The conclusion that cold weather causes murder is not supported by the statistics given because not all homicides constitute murder. Murder is a criminal form of homicide. Some homicides are accidental or justifiable, whereas no murders are accidental or legally justified since murder is directly related to intent.

An observer would need the murder rate, not the homicide rate, to make a conclusion about murder.

It's just more tales from the wing-nut, whack-o-sphere echochamber ...

Very possible that there is some distortion or perversion of the facts going on ...

 

[scottm4211]

Leo, are you in Colorado?

 

[Turtle]

If you look at the FBI Statistics, you'll see those numbers up there are mostly made up. In 2012 Chicago had 516 homicides (500 in the city, plus 16 in the suburbs). Houston had 217 in the city, but another 132 in the suburbs for a total of 349.

In 2012 the homicide rate per 100,000 people for Houston is 10.0, and for Chicago it's 18.5.
Detroit 54.6
New Orleans 53.2
St. Louis 35.5
Baltimore 34.9

Houston, Minneapolis and Nashville all have the same rate (although if you want to get raped, Minneapolis is your vacation destination).

 

[LDB]

I believe it was meant as humor toward cold weather. That's how I took it anyway.

 

[Ragman]

I believe it was meant as humor toward cold weather. That's how I took it anyway.

Homicide and murder are not subjects to be used in jokes.

 

[Tennesseahawk]

Homicide and murder are not subjects to be used in jokes.

Sure they are.

 

[Ragman]

Sure they are.

 

[davekc]

If you look at the FBI Statistics, you'll see those numbers up there are mostly made up. In 2012 Chicago had 516 homicides (500 in the city, plus 16 in the suburbs). Houston had 217 in the city, but another 132 in the suburbs for a total of 349.

In 2012 the homicide rate per 100,000 people for Houston is 10.0, and for Chicago it's 18.5.
Detroit 54.6
New Orleans 53.2
St. Louis 35.5
Baltimore 34.9

Houston, Minneapolis and Nashville all have the same rate (although if you want to get raped, Minneapolis is your vacation destination).

Ok... it is minus thirty degrees in MN. I can't figure it out.
Things shrink at that temperature.