How come the murder and crime rates are up 17 percent in New York and 37 percent in Chicago? They don't like their citizens owning guns. The crime rate is down nationwide ( 7 percent) in states that allow gun permits. How is this possible? Criminals are afraid of folks who can fight back without waiting on the law and the court system that will turn them loose. Homeowners offer no lenghty jail time, no appeal, and no waste of taxpayer dollars failed justice systems.