Metro incident and why crime in MD and DC greater than NOVA

[Anonymous]

Recent incident: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/videos-of-robbers-on-dc-area-subway-and-bus-alarm-a-judge-you-didnt-care/2017/11/15/22b45d4e-c975-11e7-aa96-54417592cf72_story.html?hpid=hp_local-news_metro-attack-7am-winner%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.f0c51331e4e

Crime stats: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/local/homicides/#

NOVA has a population of approx. 3 million and MD near DC has a similar population size.

Looking at crime stats above, why is crime in DC and especially Maryland (given similar suburban environment to NOVA) so much higher than NOVA?

I am relatively new to the area and just trying to understand, so not trolling.

1) Is NOVA wealthier per capita (more middle and upper middle class) than these areas?
2) Are the stricter laws in VA working better?
3) Less tolerance for this kind of behavior by NOVA residents (MD and DC has more of a cultural inclination against police reporting)?
4) Pretty sure the gun ownership issue is a point often repeated by VA residents but a point I don't buy as valid necessarily. You could of course argue it.

[Anonymous]

Because most of the crime comes from poor people. Most of the poor people in NOVA are illegal immigrants, and while they do commit some crime, they aren't nearly as brazen about it since they can be deported. Also, they are usually working and don't have all the idle time for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because most of the crime comes from poor people. Most of the poor people in NOVA are illegal immigrants, and while they do commit some crime, they aren't nearly as brazen about it since they can be deported. Also, they are usually working and don't have all the idle time for that.

This is part of the answer.

NoVA also had pretty strict racial covenants up through the 1970's in some areas. Lots of redlining in NoVA, so poorer African-Americans were essentially forced to live in DC and MD, which had loosened their racial covenants in the 1960s. Similarly, NoVA had strict zoning about multifamily housing because they didn't want to attract "those people" who couldn't afford a SFH.

Crime is most closely correlated with poverty. Where do the poor live in this region? That explains the answer. It has nothing to do with race, 2nd Amendment rights, or culture.

[Anonymous]

VA in general actually has a functioning justice system compared to the joke of a revolving door that DC calls its court system?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VA in general actually has a functioning justice system compared to the joke of a revolving door that DC calls its court system?

Yes this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VA in general actually has a functioning justice system compared to the joke of a revolving door that DC calls its court system?

This is certainly part of this. I"m a landlord in MoCo and my friend is a landlord in Fairfax. He can have the sheriff at the door of a non-paying tenant for eviction in under a week. In MoCo, it takes about 3 months (just the sheriff appointment is scheduled 6 weeks out).

[Anonymous]

Is this a trick question? There are more poor blacks in DC and MD than in VA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this a trick question? There are more poor blacks in DC and MD than in VA.

OP here. Not a trick question. Plenty of poor people in Woodbridge and geographic demographics do not explain why someone from MD or DC would not just cross the bridge and commit crimes in VA. in fact they routinely do between DC and MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a trick question? There are more poor blacks in DC and MD than in VA.

OP here. Not a trick question. Plenty of poor people in Woodbridge and geographic demographics do not explain why someone from MD or DC would not just cross the bridge and commit crimes in VA. in fact they routinely do between DC and MD.

Ward 9 spans DC and MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because most of the crime comes from poor people. Most of the poor people in NOVA are illegal immigrants, and while they do commit some crime, they aren't nearly as brazen about it since they can be deported. Also, they are usually working and don't have all the idle time for that.

This is part of the answer.

NoVA also had pretty strict racial covenants up through the 1970's in some areas. Lots of redlining in NoVA, so poorer African-Americans were essentially forced to live in DC and MD, which had loosened their racial covenants in the 1960s. Similarly, NoVA had strict zoning about multifamily housing because they didn't want to attract "those people" who couldn't afford a SFH.

Crime is most closely correlated with poverty. Where do the poor live in this region? That explains the answer. It has nothing to do with race, 2nd Amendment rights, or culture.

You are only partially right about one thing.

[Anonymous]

armed robbery, strong-arm robbery by force/violence, and assault crimes are lower in Virginia than in Maryland and DC for the same reason it's also lower in most other states, including those with large urban areas - because most states allow concealed carry. Maryland and DC (until recently) do not.

Other states with large cities and diverse populations, such as Texas, Georgia and Florida have similar demographics as the DC area, but less of the type of robbery crime that is typically committed in states where people aren't allowed to carry a gun for self defense.

It's really not that big of a mystery. Criminals aren't stupid. They understand things like this. Pulling a knife or gun on someone in Georgetown will get you their wallet, cel phone, or car. Pulling a gun on someone 1/2 a mile away in Roslyn might get you killed. They know this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:armed robbery, strong-arm robbery by force/violence, and assault crimes are lower in Virginia than in Maryland and DC for the same reason it's also lower in most other states, including those with large urban areas - because most states allow concealed carry. Maryland and DC (until recently) do not.

Other states with large cities and diverse populations, such as Texas, Georgia and Florida have similar demographics as the DC area, but less of the type of robbery crime that is typically committed in states where people aren't allowed to carry a gun for self defense.

It's really not that big of a mystery. Criminals aren't stupid. They understand things like this. Pulling a knife or gun on someone in Georgetown will get you their wallet, cel phone, or car. Pulling a gun on someone 1/2 a mile away in Roslyn might get you killed. They know this.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:armed robbery, strong-arm robbery by force/violence, and assault crimes are lower in Virginia than in Maryland and DC for the same reason it's also lower in most other states, including those with large urban areas - because most states allow concealed carry. Maryland and DC (until recently) do not.

Other states with large cities and diverse populations, such as Texas, Georgia and Florida have similar demographics as the DC area, but less of the type of robbery crime that is typically committed in states where people aren't allowed to carry a gun for self defense.

It's really not that big of a mystery. Criminals aren't stupid. They understand things like this. Pulling a knife or gun on someone in Georgetown will get you their wallet, cel phone, or car. Pulling a gun on someone 1/2 a mile away in Roslyn might get you killed. They know this.

I think you give criminals a little too much credit.
I also think PPs pointing to VA having wealthier suburbs (generally speaking) and crime relating to poverty are closer to the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because most of the crime comes from poor people. Most of the poor people in NOVA are illegal immigrants, and while they do commit some crime, they aren't nearly as brazen about it since they can be deported. Also, they are usually working and don't have all the idle time for that.

This is part of the answer.

NoVA also had pretty strict racial covenants up through the 1970's in some areas. Lots of redlining in NoVA, so poorer African-Americans were essentially forced to live in DC and MD, which had loosened their racial covenants in the 1960s. Similarly, NoVA had strict zoning about multifamily housing because they didn't want to attract "those people" who couldn't afford a SFH.

Crime is most closely correlated with poverty. Where do the poor live in this region? That explains the answer. It has nothing to do with race, 2nd Amendment rights, or culture.

A little thing called the Supreme Court outlined racial covenants in 1964. DC and Maryland had the same racial covenants, and my DC neighborhood was "blockbusted" when I was a kid. One black family moved there in 1966, and the neighobrhood had turned by 1967. DC and Maryland had the same segregated facilities as Virginia, and one very prominent DC department store forbade black women from trying on dresses and they were not returned

The difference, as someone pointed out, is that many poor in Virginia actually work because it is a right to work state and they are not restricted by unions as they are in DC and Maryland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this a trick question? There are more poor blacks in DC and MD than in VA.

OP here. Not a trick question. Plenty of poor people in Woodbridge and geographic demographics do not explain why someone from MD or DC would not just cross the bridge and commit crimes in VA. in fact they routinely do between DC and MD.

Woodbridge is a pit of disgustingness and foul crimes - thanks for the reminder.