Information can also be misrepresented, misinterpreted, and manipulated. I’m not suggesting that you personally are doing that but data is not just a true/false dichotomy.
As an example, Purdue had two murders in 2022, both actually ON campus, in the same year. One students was murdered in his dorm by his roommate having a psychotic break. Not gun violence but the result was still murder. The other was a targeted shooting.
Yet, Purdue is on almost all the lists for having the safest college community. On this list particular list they were actually #1 for the safest campus. The 15 Safest Colleges in America | Academic Influence
If you look through Purdue’s Clery report, it’s actually pretty chilling (especially from a parent’s perspective) but it’s nothing compared to the reports for schools that are high on the list for unsafest campuses in the US.
Do I think parents and students should consider safety when deciding on colleges? Yes I do. Does context matter? Yes it does!