The struggling News-Gazette continues to publish their local paper for Champaign-Urbana, IL. Yeah, if it weren’t for the University of Illinois it would likely be a lot closer to its deathbed than it currently is. A few weeks ago, the News-Gazette ran an open letter from Urbana’s very political appointee police chief lamenting “gun violence” in his city.
In an open letter to residents, @UrbanaPD Chief Larry D. Boone writes: “We cannot wait for another tragedy to remind us of what we already know: domestic violence and gun violence are urgent crises that demand immediate action.” https://t.co/u488NRlIcy
— The News-Gazette (@news_gazette) February 11, 2025
Yeah. That example of symbolism over substance was just too juicy to pass up.
But what do you expect from a political police chief (DEI anyone?) appointed by a whack-a-doodle radical Urbana mayor?
I had planned on skewering the News-Gazette in the next issue of GunNews for declining to print an alternative viewpoint. But alas, they surprised me (and some of our eagle-eyed members who saw it published). It ran in the combined Saturday-Sunday edition of the dead tree publication. Here’s the link, but be forewarned, they are all paywalled up.
Here it is.
Problem is gangs, not guns
Urbana police Chief Larry Boone lamented so-called “gun violence” for the violent crime in his city in his open letter published by The News-Gazette.Here we go again. It is gang violence, not gun violence. Gangs drive this violent crime we see in much of America, both locally and nationally. Even former Attorney General Merrick Garland acknowledged that truth at a survivor’s summit. He said gangs and repeat violent offenders are responsible for most of the gun-related violent crime across America.If the chief won’t even call the problem what it is, how can he possibly solve this?Locally, we need better public education. If kids graduate thanks to social promotion and can’t read the diploma, then they’re pretty much unemployable. Without career opportunities, all that’s left is the glamorous gangster lifestyle of drug sales, ill-gotten cash, (already) illegally possessed guns and crime.For those flirting with the gang lifestyle, we need criminal enforcement and accountability, including incarceration to deter criminal behavior — not the catch-and-release justice system the SAFE-T Act has given us.Moreover, singing “Kumbaya, My Lord” after implementing another “restorative justice” program isn’t going to deter criminal behavior.Chief, get with the program. Call out those responsible and quit blaming guns for the gang violence in Urbana.JOHN BOCHBloomington