The most violent of crimes, murder, made only a limited appearance in the North Dakota during 2008. Limited in the numerical sense, but all encompassing to the victims, families and people involved. Let us not forget or diminish the victims.

The state, in recent years, averages 11 murders, had a high of 22 in 1993 and had 16 in 2007.

Two murders in 2008, then, stands out. It's another reminder that by-and-large North Dakota offers safe haven to its citizens. It's part of what we use to sell the state to perspective residents and companies.

When the newspaper surveys readers about what news is important, crime stories are near the top of the list. And when cities in North Dakota survey their citizens about their concerns, again crime and safety rank high. It seems the safer people are, the more they are worried about it. Part of the explanation for this is that when you are a victim, even of simple vandalism, there's a sense of being violated that's hard to forget.

North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem acknowledges the "roller coaster" nature of statistics like these, which can swing radically one way or the other in a state with a small population. The 16-to-2 drop in 12 months had little to do with the effort of law enforcement or a well-behaved society, rather, it took its direction from Lady Luck.

The same day that the Tribune ran the story on murders in 2008, another story told of legislation proposed for North Dakota requiring FBI background checks on child care workers. Presently, day care providers and their help are checked against the state sex offender and child abuse and neglect data bases, but not for other offenses.

Making sure children are safe should not be left up to luck. The Legislature should require child care workers have effective background checks, to give parents and the community a certain level of confidence.

As for murder, we can all hope that in 2009 there are none.