This is what happened in Australia,
"Homicide has decreased by nine percent since 1990 and armed robbery by one-third since 2001, but recorded assaults and sexual assaults have both increased steadily in the past 10 years by over 40 percent and 20 percent respectively."
They have reverted to a "might makes right" society. Notice rape has increased 20 percent? Violent assaults 40 percent? It is THE reason to carry. Protection of yourself and loved ones, the innocent and community. Violent assault, home invasions, strong arm robberies. Compare the rates of these crimes before and after. Now that the innocent has only kitchen utensils to defend with while when criminal is bigger, or in multiples, there is no more deterrent. If they own an illegal gun forget about it... You are dead meat.
I am Australian. I have lived an travelled all over the world and no where else I have felt more safe than Australia. Yes bad stuff still happens but the chances of it are so much lower than most places in the world. The statistics you are quoting does not take into account the increased reporting of assaults during this time. But since I'm a believer in live and let live you believe whatever you want. Good luck to you.