Citizen: Each year since 1970, a new record has been set for the number of murders committed in this city  This fact points to the decreasing ability of our law enforcement system to prevent violent crime  City official: You overlook the fact that the city' s population has risen steadily since 1970
In fact, the number of murder victims per 100 people has actually fallen slightly in the city since 1970
If the health care received by assault victims last year had been of the same quality as it was in 1970, the murder rate in the city last year would have turned out to be several times what it actually was.