The ‘Ferguson effect’ or too many guns? Exploring the rise in violent crime in Chicago

One of the most hotly contested debates today involves the recent uptick in violent crime and the extent to which increases in violence may be explained by the “Ferguson effect,” whereby the increased scrutiny of police since the 2014 Ferguson unrest has been hypothesized to lead police officers to become more hesitant and less aggressive. Chicago is an epicenter for much of this controversy, and on numerous occasions President Trump has threatened to “send in the feds.”