Devlin Brown, for the Chicago Tribune
UPDATED: Chicago’s streets demonstrated yet again that strict gun control fails to prevent or deter criminal misuse of guns by criminals.
It also shows what a farce the recent Chicago Gun Buyback, which Guns Save Life participated in and netted $6240 from for youth firearm training, also is a giant farce.
Nineteen people were shot in attacks across the South and West sides between about 5:20 p.m. Thursday and 1:30 a.m. Friday – including 13 people during a single 30-minute period – according to the Chicago Police Department.
The shootings peaked between about 9:15 and 9:45 p.m. Thursday when 13 people were shot, including eight in a single incident at 79th Street and Essex Avenue about 9:30 p.m.
Does this sound like a place you would like to visit for vacation or for business?
Not to us!
Gun control isn’t the solution to violence plaguing Chicago, it’s the problem.
Predatory criminals know that they are the only ones armed, aside from the police officer they might occasionally see now and then, and as such, are emboldened to threaten people with their weapons. Their victims almost assuredly aren’t going to be able to put up meaningful resistance in most cases and there is almost no chance the violent predator will end up pushing daisies.
Illinois is the last state in the union that doesn’t recognize its citizens’ right-t0-carry.
In these other states, like Indiana, for instance, young wannabe violent thugs know and understand their victims may be able to very handily defend themselves against violent attack. These potential criminals know they may face death or great bodily injury if they go sticking their guns in people’s faces or sexually assaulting or robbing them, even at knifepoint.
Yes, if Chicagoland politicians were serious about making the streets safer for their constituents, they would be eschewing gun control like the bubonic plague.
Until then, the violence will continue, no matter how many well-meaning gun buybacks they hold or how many local restrictions they place on gun ownership. After all, gun control is the problem, NOT the solution.