16% Homicide Decrease

During the ABC Presidential Debate, former President Donald Trump painted a picture of an America where crime is on the rise, claiming that while crime rates are declining globally, they remain high in the U.S. In response, the Biden administration released new data to the FBI showing a 16% drop in the homicide rate and violent crime at its lowest level in fifty years. President Biden emphasized, "None of this happened by accident. Vice President Harris and I invested in public safety and acted to stop the illegal flow of guns into our communities. Our American Rescue Plan – which every Republican in Congress opposed – provided over $15 billion in public safety funding, helping more than 1,000 state, city, and county governments avoid cuts to police budgets, invest in community violence interventions, and take other essential steps to keep communities safe."

Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted the impact of gun policy reforms in reducing violent crime, stating, "As someone who worked to get illegal firearms off the streets as Attorney General of California, I partnered with President Biden to enact the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, expanding background checks, investing in mental health supports in schools, and helping states implement red flag laws."

Biden reiterated his commitment to continuing efforts to reduce crime, saying, "That’s why I will keep pushing Congress to fund 100,000 additional police officers, strengthen the ATF, invest in community violence intervention programs, and pass commonsense gun safety reforms, including a ban on assault weapons."