I guess you can make statistics say just about anything you want. Statistics are designed to be misleading. The only reason they exist is to try and support a biased hypothesis. Doesn't really help with solving the problem though. If murder is on the rise is the problem getting worse? If the rate is decreasing does that mean that the problem is in the midst of solution? According to the FBI murders have decreased over the last 6 years, while according to Gallup, personal firearm ownership has been on the rise. Look at the number of homicides between handguns vs rifles and I wonder why we are so up in arms over "assault" style rifles instead of handguns. Seems we really don't care about facts, unless of course they fit our mindset. Then we can defend the way we think while trying to invalidate other sources.
Murder Victims by Weapon, 2009–2013
Murder by State, Types of Weapons, 2014
Gallup gun ownership poll.