I don't about "now" in we are a lawless ,violent society. I would argue that is the history of America starting with the native American and slave holocausts. However I agree that the rate vs. actual numbers is the only statistic of significance.

Comparing 1967 and today is truly apples and oranges. I can't pull up the figures just now but percentage of people in poverty, unemployed and single parent homes are far greater now than then when Detroit was a largely middle-class and prosperous city. Add to that the a greater number of firearms in circulation with greater ease of availability.

In the face of those troubling statistics a decline in murder rate from 55 to 44 per 100K, while still tragic, is grounds for cautious encouragement. And no more.