Assaults with firearms increasing
The most recent report of an unarmed assault was reported by Columbia police on Nov. 16, 2016. Since then there have been several calls for shots fired, homicide by gun and armed robberies.
The Uniform Crime Report shows assaults without weapons has decreased, while assaults with firearms has increased.
In 2001 reports showed there were 4,368 assaults with a firearm and 7,770 assaults without weapons statewide. In 2006 there were 5,595 assaults with a firearm and 6,808 assaults without weapons.
Tom O’Sullivan, a detective for the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, said 20 years ago there weren’t that many gunfights. He said when the laws about carrying guns became more lenient, the gunfights started to increase.
