Violent crime has plunged since the mid-90's. The murder rate is at record lows.
http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
The way crime statistics are reported have been changed over time the same way that unemployment numbers are underreported and the cost of living numbers are totally bogus. Murders are now reported in the national stats as suspicious deaths if no one has been charged with the murder. If you think violent crime is down, you’ve been smoking too much weed.