text: Yes, Richard, nationally murder rates are down. Chicago is an exception.  I think I'm going to pick out the most backward, racist, poverty-stricken, ill-educated, most violent, welfare-using southern state and use it as my example whenever anyone says anything positive about Republicans.  I mean, that's what right wingers do in yelling "Chicago" as their response to any criticism of a number of subjects, especially gun control and violence generally.