Guns and crime [View all]

Since 1993 crime has been dropping and of particular interest is the drop in violent crime. According to the FBI, over that 20 year period, the violent crime rate went from an incidence of 747.1 per 100,000 persons to 386.9. That's a 48% drop which, IMHO, is good.

https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2012/crime-in-the-u.s.-2012/tables/1tabledatadecoverviewpdf/table_1_crime_in_the_united_states_by_volume_and_rate_per_100000_inhabitants_1993-2012.xls

About 55% of all homicides are by firearm and, if we extend that to all other violent crime, less than 1 gun out of 470 is actually used in a crime. (Robberies may have a higher incidence of gun use while assault and rape may be lower, but I think the 55% is a safe maximum.)

If more guns are being sold everyday and guns lead to crime, why is the violent crime rate dropping?
How much more would the rate drop if drugs were decriminalized?