Chicago Death Toll

One weekend alone in Chicago recently, 12 people were KILLED and a total of 66 were shot. The mayor says they have reduced shooting stats 17%, and STILL their death toll is as high as it has been elsewhere in WAR ZONES. He can’t tell you the reason for such high shooting numbers, but he says “we’re working on it.” That’s “code” for we don’t have any idea of what to do. And they don’t. Every anti-gun law in existence (except those that have been found to be unconstitutional) is in effect there, but have not made a DENT in the number of gun crimes. Yes, the numbers are down slightly, but they are still way too high. They say SOME of the shootings come from gang activity, but I say MOST came from gang activity. Gang members don’t bother to obey gun laws. They mostly get their guns illegally, either by buying them from other criminals in a back alley somewhere, or just STEALING them. A FEW get them legally if they have no record—although very few of them don’t have records. The mayor says one of the problems is “we slap them on the wrist when we arrest them,” and he’s right. Gun violations are routinely “bargained away” to get convictions in other crimes—which is sloppy police work. There are other ways to solve crimes. If they’d stop doing that, they’d be surprised at how the gun crime numbers will drop as armed criminals figure out carrying a gun will get them longer prison terms. (ABC Eyewitness News)