Memphis has dramatic crime drop

R

Rider77

Member
For years when I mentioned that my son was a criminal defense attorney in Memphis, most people would respond that business must be good. Sadly it was. With at dramatic drop in crime I guess he will have to fall back on his alternate business activity as a used car dealer.
 
It’s always good to hear when cities or states are seeing a drop in crime. I had read that Memphis stepped up their efforts to fight crime using their PD and the National Guard. It was actually setup as a task force, so there are many more law enforcement officers on the streets.
 
I never understood why some areas who know they have a high rate didn't say to other Agencies, Look, come let's
meet and "help me/us" to develop a plan to make our cities safer. In other words teach us, we're willing to work with you.
The hard stance that some just won't admit they need help is so senseless. I could respect a Mayor who would do that.
 
IrishEyes said:
I never understood why some areas who know they have a high rate didn't say to other Agencies, Look, come let's
meet and "help me/us" to develop a plan to make our cities safer. In other words teach us, we're willing to work with you.
The hard stance that some just won't admit they need help is so senseless. I could respect a Mayor who would do that.
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It has a lot to do with the prosecuting atty. Some just return the criminals back to the street with no punishment. Better than a get out of jail free card.
 
jlhog said:
It has a lot to do with the prosecuting atty. Some just return the criminals back to the street with no punishment. Better than a get out of jail free card.
Click to expand...
I know that is a big part of it. Seems like all these agencies have their own rule of law anymore rather than working as a continued
system to uphold laws and regulations. Each person in charge or more has their own agenda it appears.
 
I am happy for Memphis though. @Rider77 I told my middle son when he was 12 he would be a Lawyer or a Car Salesman,
because he never stopped bugging me to hear what he wanted me to say. He did wind up in car sales and now he's worked
his way to Finance Manager and making enough money he has no worries. Your son with his lawyer background may find
himself doing better than he thought. Keep a positive mind, surprises come when you least expect them to.
 
CrimeRate.jpg
The "Pandemic Spike" (2020–2023): Between 2019 and 2020, homicides jumped nearly 75%, a trend that continued until peaking in 2023. This was attributed to pandemic-era social disruptions and changes in state gun laws.
  • Permitless Carry ("Constitutional Carry"): Effective July 1, 2021, most law-abiding adults aged 21 and older (and military members aged 18–20) were permitted to carry handguns—either openly or concealed—without a state-issued permit, background check, or mandatory safety training.
  • Expansion to 18-Year-Olds: Following a 2023 federal court settlement, the state agreed to allow all law-abiding citizens aged 18 and older to carry a handgun in public without a permit, lowering the previous age limit of 21.
  • Simplified Permit Options (2020): At the start of 2020, Tennessee introduced a cheaper, 90-minute online-only permit as an alternative to the "enhanced" 8-hour in-person training permit. This "concealed-only" permit removed the requirement for applicants to demonstrate their ability to fire a weapon.
One of the most documented effects of the law changes was a massive increase in gun thefts from vehicles.
  • Targeted Thefts: After Tennessee passed the "guns in trunks" law and later permitless carry, Memphis saw a 641% increase in guns stolen from cars over a decade, peaking at more than 3,000 thefts in 2022.
  • Illegal Supply: Criminologists and local leaders, including Memphis Mayor Paul Young, have argued that this created a "pipeline" of illegal firearms for people who would otherwise be prohibited from owning them, directly fueling the homicide spike.
 
Having lived in a very very remote location, outside of Mercer, outside of Jackson, outside of Memphis - as a youngster - it never affected me, but always made me sad that Memphis was known for high crime.

This is great news!
 
Memphis is a strange city. You can be in a neighborhood of well maintained homes and all the appearance of a quite community. Just a few blocks away you step into an area that is blighted and emitting a dangerous atmosphere. I am of course referring to Memphis mid-town. The suburban area like Germantown is much more upscale, with most of its residents commuting into the city for work and back home to safety.

Because there will always be a level of crime as in any city, my son's well established legal practice will continue till he decides not to take on client cases. My reference to being a used car salesman is a bit tongue in cheek, but he does sell used cars as much as a hobby and enterprise.
 
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