Murder rates dropped in New York City for the third straight year in 1996, with total homicides in the city under 1,000 for the first time since the mid-1960s. What do you think of the surprising statistics?

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  I guess the murderers are finally realizing it's about quality, not quantity.

  Evelyn Boucai
  Parole Officer

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  I'm baffled. In 1996, I killed twice as many people as usual, and still this decline. Someone's not pulling their weight.

  Roger Gifford
  Systems Analyst

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  I heard that the New York murder rate was under 1,000, but once I get that backstage pass to Rent, it should be up to 1,045.

  Don Auletta
  Speech Pathologist

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  The murder rate is plummeting as people over the age of 75 continue to die. No, wait—that's Murder She Wrote ratings.

  Mitch Dubin
  Plumber

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  Does this number include the countless murders that were committed against helpless fetuses in my womb? If not, add three more for '96.

  Sima Storch
  Lawyer

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  Hmm... New York City's murder rate is down. So how is the Internet helping to shape our view of this important phenomenon? Hi, I'm Time magazine editor Walter Isaacson.

  Stan Pagiavlas
  Actuary