Violent Crime Increases 6 Percent in Chicago

Violent crime in Chicago is up 6 percent in the first four months of  2008, compared to the first 4 months in 2007, as the Chicago Tribune reports.  Murder is also up by 9%:

“A total of 134 homicides were tallied over the first four months of the year, compared with 123 in that same period in 2007. Shootings also rose, a fact [Chicago Police Superintendent] Weis said was due in part to gang conflicts in two districts that resulted in 19 shootings on just one Friday night in April.”

The overwhelming majority of these murders and much of the violent crime was perpetrated by criminals who ignored Chicago’s handgun ban.  In the more than 20 years that Chicago has had a handgun ban, criminals have shown a continual willingness to violate it, just as they violate the Oak Park handgun ban.  Since well over 90% of the criminals involved in this violent crime are convicted felons (and often gang members), they are already bared from possessing any firearm by federal law.  Not surprisingly, these criminals who are bent committing murder or other violent crime ignore the federal gun laws, the local gun bans, and the laws against murder.

At the same time, law abiding victims who obey the handgun ban in Chicago are left without the ability to defend themselves.  Rather than recognizing that allowing law abiding citizens to own guns can stop criminals and save lives, Chicago’s response to this violence is to give police machine guns.  At least Chicago’s Mayor Daley will be protected, since he gets the benefit of tax-payer sponsored armed bodyguards.

Tags for this article: Cook County, Crime, Criminal, Gun Ban, Gun Control, News, Self Defense, Victim, Why I Support Gun Rights