Violent crime increases for second straight year

A top-FBI official leaked today that a report due for release next week will show violent crime increasing for the second straight year:

The surging crime rate, detailed in a new FBI report expected nextweek, counters Justice Department attempts to tamp down violence bysending more money to local police and studying U.S. cities for clueson how the increases began.

Asked if the report would show crime rates are still climbing, FBIAssistant Director John Miller said: "I think you can anticipate itwill." He would not say by how much.

This is analogous to a report released earlier in May, this time by the Justice Department, that blamed the spike in violent crime mostly on the easy access that offenders have to guns.

On the other hand, Many conservatives such as John Stossel believe gun control actually contributes to higher crime.

However, others might conclude that the Bush Administration's decision in 2003 to cut the COPS program is partly to blame.