iPods Don't Kill People, People Kill People

According a new report from the Urban Institute, the recent uptick in violent crime can be attributed to the number of iPods in circulation. From the New York Times' "City Room" blog:

The report suggests that "the rise in violent offending and the explosion in the sales of iPods and other portable media devices is more than coincidental," and asks, rather provocatively, "Is There an iCrime Wave?"

The report notes that nationally, violent crime fell every year from 1993 to 2004, before rising in 2005 and 2006, just as "America's streets filled with millions of people visibly wearing, and being distracted by, expensive electronic gear."

Apple had no comment on the report, and there is no word whether the company will offer $100 rebates to those grievously wounded in iPod-related attacks.

Questionable Urban Institute report here. [pdf]