Some further evidence: over the past 30 years, concealed carry laws have loosened dramatically (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rtc.gif), while crime has consistently declined, including year over year in the states at the time they loosen their restrictions.

This year, Washington D.C. had an 17% drop in murder rate (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07...), immediately following the overturn of their gun ban via the Heller decision. Which is not to say the decision is responsible for the drop, but even if the impact was negative, it was swamped by other minor factors such as the rain.

I'm more and more convinced that gun restrictions have everything to do with perceived, rather than actual safety.