* From an Illinois State Rifle Association press release…
For the second year in a row, the ISRA is advising subscribers to its alert service to write Chicago out of their summer vacation plans because the city is just too darn dangerous to visit. This safety advisory comes as Chicago experiences an unprecedented upswing in violent crime.
Although city officials and the Chicago media would like people to believe that the surge in violence is limited to Chicago’s gang-infested neighborhoods, ISRA members who are also Chicago police officers report that criminals of all sorts have notched up their efforts in every corner of the city. These members report that crimes ranging from pickpocketing to aggravated assault are becoming very commonplace in areas once considered safe for families and tourists. As one officer put it, “Don’t come to Chicago this summer unless you want to get beaten and robbed.”
“Putting the bad economy aside, there’s a couple of major reasons for Chicago’s rising tide of violent crime,” commented ISRA Executive Director, Richard Pearson. “First off, criminals are fully aware that Illinois’ prohibition on concealed carry gives them the upper hand. Second, Mayor Emanuel and Police Superintendent McCarthy are in a hopeless state of paralysis over what to do about violent crime. This is a recipe for disaster. Criminals know you can’t legally protect yourself, and they know that Chicago law-enforcement officials haven’t a clue about what to do to protect good citizens from harm. Criminals are taking advantage of a bad situation – and doing a good job at it.”
“In clear conscience I cannot recommend that anyone vacation in Chicago this summer,” continued Pearson. “Tourists are like sitting ducks and mobs of violent criminals have shown that they are brazen enough to attack anywhere, any time – even along the Magnificent Mile. I suggest that folks consider Wisconsin as a vacation destination this year. Fresh air, sunshine, friendly people – all waiting just a short drive across the border. And, although Illinois residents cannot take advantage of Wisconsin’s newly-attained concealed carry status, the general air of civility fostered by concealed carry is certainly another reason to vacation with our neighbors to the north!”
* There were 259 Chicago homicides in the first six months of this year…
The Tribune reported Monday that 143 of the homicide victims in the first half of the year were listed as being at least affiliated with a street gang. The data obtained by the paper represent the Police Department’s preliminary assessment of crimes and are subject to revision as investigations progress.
A deeper review of the numbers shows males ages 15 to 35 made up nearly three-quarters of African-American homicide victims. Police data showed that 133 of those 145 victims had arrest histories.
Of the 44 Hispanic victims, 27 were males ages 15 to 35 and had arrest histories, according to the data. Three of the 11 white victims were males in that age range with arrest histories.
Legalized concealed carry probably wouldn’t have done much to stop most of those homicides, since so many gang members and affiliates (who are more likely to have criminal records, and therefore would be ineligible to legally carry) have been victims.
* Meanwhile…
A six-month old plan to target gangs and drug markets in Chicago’s two most violent police districts will be shifted to other high-crime districts after a dramatic drop in homicides in the targeted areas, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Thursday.
Former Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis told the Chicago Sun-Times this week that it might be time to “call an audible” to stop a citywide 39 percent spike in homicides.
Emanuel’s plan is more like a spread offense.
After pointing to a 43 percent drop in homicides in the Englewood District and a 24 percent reduction in the Harrison District, the mayor said he wants to duplicate that “special, new, concentrated program” in other high-crime districts.
“Those two districts last year represented 25 percent of our violent crime. Today, unlike some other areas, they’re showing … a dramatic reduction in the homicide rate,” the mayor said.
* More from the PR counter-offensive…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s office swung into full damage-control mode Wednesday after Chicago’s convention and tourism chief was quoted as saying that a 38 percent spike in the city’s homicide rate and a troubling return to mob attacks downtown was hurting efforts to promote the city.
Don Welsh, president and CEO of Choose Chicago, told the Chicago Tribune’s editorial board that he’s gotten five or six calls from meeting planners in recent weeks concerned about whether Chicago is still a safe place to hold their meetings.
So far, nobody’s cancelling any meetings just yet. But, that’s a possibility if the Chicago Police Department does not get a quick handle on the problem, Welsh was quoted as saying.
“We hope this sunsets quickly because all the good work we’re doing regionally, nationally and internationally, if this is not contained in a reasonable period of time, it will have an impact,” the Tribune’s website quoted Welsh as saying.
“There are inquiries that are coming in from meeting planners that are saying, ‘Hey, I’m reading about what’s taken place in your city. Is your city safe?’”
In a follow-up interview with the Chicago Sun-Times a short time later Wednesday, Welsh insisted that his remarks had been “misinterpreted” and “taken out of context.”
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:03 pm:
Drudge is also keeping a prominent body count going, presumably to embarrass Rahm.
More than 90% of Chicago’s violence is directly related to the drug trade. Just like during prohibition. Let’s all keep our heads in the sand and pretend we can solve the problem without ending the black market for narcotics.
- wndycty - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:08 pm:
The body count is real, the fear mongering however is part of what I believe to be an effort to make people think the streets of Chicago are dangerous. I live in Hyde Park and visit all parts of town regularly and have never been scared or felt the need to carry a gun. What the ISRA is doing is shameful, but of course they do not care about the people impacted by violence they only care about getting as many guns out on the street as possible.
- Small Town Liberal - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:10 pm:
As I’ve said before, I’m not necessarily opposed to concealed/open carry, but these gun rights folks continually come off as a bunch of wusses. I own a gun, it resides at my parents’ house in central Illinois, and I’m not afraid to walk the big bad streets of Chicago without it. I always thought folks back home were supposed to be tougher and braver than the bleeding hearts up here, I guess I was wrong.
- haverford - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:19 pm:
I like that the ISRA openly acknowledges that none of their members live in Chicago - you can’t visit somewhere you live.
- Lincoln Parker - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:21 pm:
This is just ridiculous. Chicago has its problems, but the areas any tourist is gonna visit are probably safer then most big cities.
This is clearly the IRA pushing their agenda.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:32 pm:
Perception quickly becomes reality, folks. Rahm understands that, and is acting quickly to find a remedy because of it. Democrat ideology needs to get checked at the door when reality comes knocking.
Good thing, because the liberal apologists posting here refuse to acknowledge that reports of homicides and assaults have a direct impact on tourism dollars.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:40 pm:
===Democrat ideology===
First, it’s Democratic. Second, what are you talking about? What ideology needs to be checked?
And from what I’ve read, not a single comment here refuses to acknowledge the an impact on tourism.
For me, the impact on tourism dollars pales in comparison to the nightmare situation of innocent people who have to live in violent neighborhoods that are dominated by gun-toting criminal gangs. When children can’t play on the sidewalk in front of their home without worrying about stray bullets, who cares was impact this has on tourism spending?
- elginkevin - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:43 pm:
“although Illinois residents cannot take advantage of Wisconsin’s newly-attained concealed carry status”
Can too. Just have to get a permit from another state which licenses non-residents, and which Wisconsin recognizes reciprocity.
- Shore - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:51 pm:
The chicago reader has done a pretty good job checking out rahms schedules and travel and having read the first 2 parts of the series covering his work to the spring. Nowhere in their pretty exhaustive reporting was there any mention of a focus on either the neighborhoods or public safety. They broke down how mayor 100,000 cops on the street during the clinton administration spends his time and most of it was spent in dc, being a chief of staff emeritus, downtown business government relations guy, global traveler, obama re-elect advisor. You got a pretty good sense in reading them these kinds of issues-what mayors are generally supposed to be focused on, were not a high priority so these problems are not a shock.
The press release is bad and politically tone deaf.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 2:58 pm:
–Good thing, because the liberal apologists posting here refuse to acknowledge that reports of homicides and assaults have a direct impact on tourism dollars.–
Show me.
I’ve worked for years in conventions, trade shows, meetings and tourism, and you won’t find a study or survey anywhere that puts safety at the top of concerns for Chicago.
Most tourists aren’t out banging at night in Englewood and Austin.
For coventions, trade shows and meetings, the knocks have been work rules, weather and no golf. For tourists, by far, the biggest knock is the cost of parking (the great majority of Chicago tourism is drive-in).
The ISRA is just jumping on the Drudge bandwagon for knocking Chicago, and by extension, Obama.
A couple of muggings in River North is big news because it’s rare, not because it’s rampant.
- Wumpus - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:09 pm:
No, it is mostly fine. No worries unless youhappen ot live in a poor area. Also, be careful using your smartphones in public.
- Ace Laredo - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:10 pm:
Just curious, but have newspapers always had a running body count ticker or is this a 2012 thing?
Like the Summer Of The Shark a few years ago, we’ve latched onto a story and are focusing on it. Not to minimize any further than I already have, but these incidents are taking place in the same areas they always have. Where was the outrage from special interest groups then?
And, seriously, gun guys are wusses. So afraid. So afraid.
- cermak_rd - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:23 pm:
Quite honestly, most of the murders, as has already been noted, are about gangs. If you’re not part of one, or trying to compete with one, and you’re not unlucky enough to get shot by accident (avoiding high crime areas can mitigate this), you’ll be fine.
Actually, if we do get concealed carry, I want the ex-offenders to be able to rapidly get their right to carry back as a result of finishing their parole. Because they are frequently the people who wind up living in rougher hoods as a result of the economic and social marginalization they face as people with criminal records. I would also favor concealed carry only in areas with high crime rates.
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:23 pm:
Well there’s got to be someone affiliated with the ISRA’s concealed carry effort actually in Chicago because I got a random phone call a couple of weeks ago to join them there for some meeting/fundraiser to support the effort that was at Maggiano’s last month.
I still have no idea why I got that call, but then again I never knew why I was getting fundraising solicitations from Sharron Angle two years ago either.
- titan - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:25 pm:
The gang members may be prohibited from LEGAL gun ownership, but they’re the ones carrying guns and shooting people
- Logic not emotion - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:28 pm:
Around midnight, before the advent of personal GPSs, I was headed to Pheasant Run Conference Center for a conference starting early the next morning. The exit I was supposed to take was closed. I took the next one, promptly got totally lost and ended up in an area where I would have felt a lot safer if I’d be able to carry concealed. Not everyone in bad areas is a gang member or there intentionally.
P.S. Take a look to the feeds to the right and see how many are shot in Chicago on a routine basis and ask yourself how well that gun control is working. It works to keep guns out of the hands of responsible, law abiding individuals; but not the criminals.
- the Other Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:40 pm:
So here’s what I don’t understand: the ISRA claims that crime increased because there is no concealed carry in Illinois, yet all the shootings (I would wager) were carried out by by people carrying concealed weapons. And, honestly, I would be surprised if most of the targets did not own guns and conceal-carried those at times, as well.
Other than that, this is just disgraceful. The people who wrote the press release (or are the intended audience of the “alert) should be more scared of rush hour traffic or parking in the city than being victims of crime.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:47 pm:
‘ the city is just too darn dangerous to visit’ I guess you have to sound like a complete bumpkin to get your point accross to these rubes…’too darn dangerous’ LOL, way to sound the alarms Gomer!!
- Surf 1 - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:49 pm:
“Around midnight, before the advent of personal GPSs, I was headed to Pheasant Run Conference Center for a conference starting early the next morning. The exit I was supposed to take was closed.” I didn’t know that Pheasant Run Conference Center was even in Chicago; I think that’s the mean streets of St. Charles - about 35 miles from downtown Chicago . . . where people still hunt and possess firearms.
- Elder - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 3:59 pm:
A friend of mine grew up in south Texas, now lives in Chicago, and provides training in factories (especially defense industries) around the country, often in the South. He says that he is often asked: “Why do you big city liberals want to take our guns?” His response: “Why do you hunters want to arm every gang-banger in Chicago with automatic weapons?”
- PH83 - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:01 pm:
i live in chicago and i can tell you that these numbers are real and you are not safe in the “tourist” area. criminals here are more and more desperate and braver than ever.
i have read these reports and talked to ppl about things that dont get reported and feel that ppl here need something to defend themselves especially women. rape is high and they have nothing to defend themselves except some pepper spray not even mace, pepper spray thats BS. everything you can think of to defend yourself is illegal here and that is not fair when criminals dont give a damn. having a swiss army knife would help somebody but they could end up in jail their selves for carrying it.
- Colossus - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:02 pm:
Elder - I’m stealing that for my personal arsenal of witty, thought provoking responses.
- collar observer - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:18 pm:
Fearmongering has a direct affect on tourist dollars too - and my guess is at a greater rate. Totally disgusting to do that to the economy of the great city of Chicago ISRA - all because you want to conceal/carry.
- Plutocrat03 - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:23 pm:
“keeping a prominent body count going”
Shouldn’t someone be ashamed? Media waxes and waned on their interest in the body count. Whatever it is it is disgusting that the problem has persisted for so many years.
- Springfieldish - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:28 pm:
Obviously, the heat is getting to the ISRA. This press release borders on nonsensical. But that’s been their tone this past session. An outrageous opening position, followed by vilification of anyone who doesn’t agree, lock, stack, and double-barreled is just not the way to present responsible gun legislation. It is, however, the sure way to be legitimately characterized as gun nuts. Honestly, they’re doing Chicago a favor by staying home. The city would make more money from the two happy families from Ireland vacationing here that I met yesterday. Oh, and violence? They’re from Ireland, for cryin’ out loud! Bring it, laddie!
- Logic not emotion - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:32 pm:
Other Anonymous: I agree. Top reasons to avoid Chicago are traffic, parking, then violence.
Surf1: Yes. It is. Except I wasn’t there yet when I got lost and wound up in a really bad area after midnight driving a flashy sports car.
- SO IL M - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:37 pm:
“Why do you hunters want to arm every gang-banger in Chicago with automatic weapons?”
And what Hunter was involved with Fast and Furious? There is no ISRA Member, NRA Member or any law abiding Gun Owner who has ever supported any Bill or Initiative to arm Gang Bangers. That response shows that he can not rationally defend his stance.
The Gang violence in Chicago is due to one reason. Power. Some Gangs have it right now, and those that dont are fighting for it. They will fight each other and amongst themselves to attain it. Legalising Narcotics will not end Gangs or Gang violence. They will seak power another way. Money brings power, and power brings money. Look up where Gang Leaders are putting there money, and you will see where they are getting their power. And by promising to back up their money by turning out votes is why they have a lot of power now.
- titan - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 4:45 pm:
@The Other Anonymous - yes there are criminals (or gang members soon to be criminals) carrying guns in Chicago, but they’re the only ones (other than police).
The problem of gang to gang violence can’t be solved by law (the gangs don’t follow laws).
The problem of criminal to inocent violence is, according to gun advocates, made worse by the crinimals knowing that they’ll be the only armed people in any event. The idea is that if the crinimals were to have to figure that some of the innocnet victims might also be armed, it would act as a restraint on them.
- Boone Logan Square - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 5:40 pm:
Well, keeping armed murder fetishists out of the city strikes me as a step forward for public safety. I’d like to keep those ISRA members a county or two away from me so I can continue to sleep soundly at night.
- Bigtwich - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 5:43 pm:
Pheasant Run ?
I guess the ISRA meant to write DuPage County out of their summer vacation plans.
I can do that.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 5:43 pm:
===I got lost and wound up in a really bad area after midnight driving a flashy sports car.===
Assuming you were on the west side of Chicago, my guess is that you were perfectly safe, especially in your fancy sports car. To most of the gang bangers on the west side, I’m sure you looked like a potential customer. As dumb as these thugs can be, they’re smart enought to not hassle or threaten potential customers.
How do think kids from Naperville buy their heroin? If they were assaulted on each shopping trip, they’d never come back. Bad for business. Ask any city cop: white people aren’t getting shot in these neighborhoods. It’s black and/or latino young men shooting rivals to protect their drug-selling turf.
We know why these people are shooting each other (and also those who get caught in the cross fire). We just don’t want to do anything to stop it apparently.
- amalia - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 5:47 pm:
@wordslinger, there have been a bunch of incidents last summer and this one in the near north area. it’s much bigger than you would have us believe.
that said, those ISRA people must be done putting up all those Guns Save Lives signs and have nothing better to do than write idiotic things.
- Chris - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 6:12 pm:
“having a swiss army knife would help somebody but they could end up in jail their selves for carrying it”
Show us the statute/ordinance that bans carrying a “normal” pocket knife. That’s a bunch of bunkum.
“The problem of criminal to inocent violence is, according to gun advocates, made worse by the crinimals knowing that they’ll be the only armed people in any event. The idea is that if the crinimals were to have to figure that some of the innocnet victims might also be armed, it would act as a restraint on them. ”
As Rich cited, the criminals are mostly stepping to OTHER criminals. The innocents are (mostly) either (a) collateral damage, or (b) people in no position to use a gun they might legally own (for example, the couple killed by their roommate).
Does anyone seriously think that people who won’t rat out bangers who shoot each other would actually shoot at a banger going after another banger? Most of what would happen is that there would be another good reason for the bangers to break into houses–to steal guns.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 6:16 pm:
I live in Streeterville and work in the Loop. The murders are not a threat to my safety but it does seem that downtown and the near north side are having a tough year in terms of robberies and muggings. I don’t think enough is being done. We need to be able to be pretty confident walking around in those areas. Right now, when I walk from one bar to another along Kinzie, I’m concerned.
If I was tourist, I would be more concerned because tourists don’t have the same block by block knowledge nor do they have the instincts of what looks right.
That being said, the press release does seem pretty ridiculous. The idea that if we all have conceal carry, these problems will be solved is laughable. The idea that all of Chicago is now Englewood is ridiculous. We have problems. The mayor is not doing enough. But we are not Mexico City where you can’t sit in a cafe for fear of being shot or kidnapped.
Yes, we have a problem. No the press release is not reasonable.
For what it is worth, I would like to see conceal carry. I just don’t think conceal carry would solve this problem.
- Skeeter - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 6:18 pm:
One more note — the press release is yet another sign the the ILRNA does not care about support from Chicago.
A more moderate release could have served to get Chicago residents on their side. This just reads like an insult to people who live here.
- Anon - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 8:30 pm:
Is there a map showing where the murders have taken place? I have not been closely following this story, but I would guess that the large majority took place in non-tourist areas.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:07 pm:
While I’m in favor of concealed carry, it would have virtually no impact on either the murder rate or the muggings/mob attacks in Chicago. Nearly all of the murders in the city are caused by gangbangers shooting each other (and unfortunately, many innocent victims get caught up in the crossfire). Regarding the mob attacks, these crimes are committed by “youths” who are brazen enough to attack people in the most congested part of the city, often in broad daylight. Somehow I doubt they would be closely following the General Assembly debates on concealed carry, or would even be aware of the law.
Beyond that, the basic problem is that Rahm and McCarthy have a serious credibility problem on the crime issue, going back to last year’s closing of the North Avenue beach due to the alleged “heat.” (Strangely, the beaches weren’t closed last week despite it being much hotter than last Memorial Day.) As long as Rahm acts like the crime issue is primarily a PR problem, and McCarthy cites bizarre statistics in an attempt to show that the problem is under control, many people are going to conclude that crime in the city is much worse than anyone cares to admit. There have been allegations made by several New York-area researchers that CompStat is little more than a sophisticated way of massaging crime statistics. Unfortunately for Rahm and McCarthy, murder is the one crime that you can’t really massage the numbers for.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 9:36 pm:
Isn’t the “beaten and robbed” theme the slogan for the upcoming NCSL conference? Or is it AFSCME contract talks. so hard to keep them straight.
- Jerry101 - Thursday, Jul 12, 12 @ 11:18 pm:
Didn’t the supreme court rule most (or all) of Chicago’s gun control laws unconstitutional a bit over a year ago?
Now the murder rate is spiking… Hmmm…
That said, I live in Chicago, gold coast to boot up until a few weeks ago (moved to a bigger place for a growing family). In the 4 years I lived in the gold coast, in the middle of touristy areas, I never saw anything to indicate that crime rates were problematic. Never saw a reason to think my safety (or that of my family was in any danger). Yeah, crime happens, it’s the big city, not Disneyland. But crime happened 4 years ago, too. People got mugged once in a while.
The nasty violence is spiking (yet another one of Rahm’s many failures as mayor), but that is largely confined to a few bad parts of town. Just stay away from Austin, engle wood, and wrigleyville (one of these days, some Cub fan is gonna crack and start shooting, i’m tellin’ ya)’, and even tourists will be fine. Just remember you’re in a city, not Disneyland. Don’t wander around half drunk with your iPad or $1500 DSLR out. Don’t flash a lot of cash. Don’t walk around with a map out. Try not o look like an ISRA member or like you’re an Iowa hayseed. You’ll be fine.
The city is quite safe. Just watch out for crazy white people like Richard Pearson.
- Phineas Fogg - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 7:30 am:
The fact that Rahm tries to downplay the violence taking place in Chicago for the tourist’s benefit shows me that Rahm has taken a sheet from the playbook of the mayor of Amity Island in the film “Jaws”. Both mayors were more than willing to sacrifice the safety and lives of a few tourists to the shark rather than acknowledge a current danger that may hurt tourist income for their city. Jodi Weis eventually recognized that “he needed a bigger boat”.
- Lenin - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 8:17 am:
What is to be done? Rahm wants to have Gladiator Day. It will be held at Solider Field and every gang can select its finest and they can duel to the last one standing. Rahm will sit up in the top sky box eating a turkey leg wearing a toga. He will be surrounded by several children. He will give them $10.00 each (from the speed cameras) until one lone banger stands. That lone banger will be called Ceasar Fire! Rahm will have bought future votes and solved the crime problem all at the same time…
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 8:17 am:
–Around midnight, before the advent of personal GPSs, I was headed to Pheasant Run Conference Center for a conference starting early the next morning. The exit I was supposed to take was closed. I took the next one, promptly got totally lost and ended up in an area where I would have felt a lot safer if I’d be able to carry concealed.–
Dude, I’m sorry, but what are you talking about?
You missed an “exit” to Pheasant Run? At midnight? For a conference the next day? An exit from what to where?
You got lost by Pheasant Run and got scared? Was it the mean streets of St. Charles or Geneva that terrified you? Perhaps a gang of omnivorous raccoons?
I don’t know of any laws that can provide peace of mind to someone scared about North Avenue and Randall Road.
- G Whiz - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 8:27 am:
I live “downstate” and enjoy taking the train into Chicago 2-3 times per year. Visit museums, art inst. theatre and one annual conference. We walk almost everywhere. I decided (prior to this ISRA press release) that I will not visit Chicago again while Rahmbo is mayor and crime stays high. Part of my reason is just a personal protest against the Chicago Dem machine politics that is just plain screwing the rest of us Illinoisans over, the other part is concern for personal safety.
- Tom - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 8:55 am:
G Whiz, thanks just one more person I don’t have to wait behind (who has no idea where they are going)
- Observing - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 8:56 am:
Maybe the ISRA is providing guns to gangs to increase the violence so the ISRA can have a better chance to passing Conceal & Carry. I mean if the Gun Nuts can spin the Fast and Furious issue as a way for Obama to tighten gun laws…
- Phineas Fogg - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:11 am:
I think that a lot of the concern regarding “how bad is the crime?” in Chicago boils down to what you are used to. “Acceptable crime” statistics is perhaps based on where you happen to live. I am constantly warning my daughter (who lives and works in Chicago)to be careful up there. She doesn’t seem to be worried about it. She just tells me that when you live in Chicago you learn how to avoid the higher crime areas and make a point to avoid painting yourself as “prey” to the many predators in the city. Perhaps she is right? Chicago has so many people living in it that maybe 259 homicides within 6 months in a city that large represents “acceptable losses” on a percentage basis. Obviously, a single loss is unacceptable to most of us but realistically 259 homicides within 6 months may simply be the human cost to be paid for living in a city like Chicago. For myself, I travel to Chicago only when I have to go there.
- Perplexed and Perturbed - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:21 am:
If the gun control nuts had their way, criminals would just switch to knives, and if the knife control nuts had their way, criminals would just switch to stones. When the stone control nuts start in on society, then we’ve really had it.
- Skeeter - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:27 am:
Hilarious, Tom. Add to that one less person going the wrong way down Ohio and Ontario, and one less person who doesn’t get that the when traffic is backed up on the other side of the intersection, best not to enter the intersection even if your light is green. I live in an area with a high infestation of tourists. Most are harmless, but a few drive us up the wall.
- Todd - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 9:55 am:
Man, you guys seem to miss what is right in front of your face.
ISRA did this to tweek Rahm, Rahm is so worried about his public image, and how people perceive him doing a job, that this is a weak spot in the armor. so they are dropping a press release to poke him and rub his nose in it.
he likes to poke the gun guys with his $65 tax and ordinances, so they decide to poke back.
it isn’t anymore complicated than that. they are going to hit him were he is sensative and get medai play about something he is clearly on the defense about.
- Anonymous - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 10:47 am:
–ISRA did this to tweek Rahm, Rahm is so worried about his public image, and how people perceive him doing a job, that this is a weak spot in the armor. so they are dropping a press release to poke him and rub his nose in it.–
Todd, that’s pretty sad. Drug crime and violence in the poor parts of Chicago (and Springfield, and Rock Island, and Rockford, and Decatur, and Aurora, and East St. Louis, and Peoria…) is real.
It’s a complex, long-term societal problem that merits more than p.r. fodder from folks who want to “poke” political opponents for their single-issue obsession. That’s just bad faith.
I’m curious if Mr. Pearson feels safe packing when he’s walking on the wild sides of Memphis, St. Louis, New Orleans, Louisville, Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Jackson, Little Rock, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, El Paso, Tuscon…..
Maybe conceal carry isn’t the answer to violent drug crime. Maybe they’re separate issues.
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 10:48 am:
The above was me.
- Oswego Joe - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 1:11 pm:
Once again this shows that liberalism has failed. It has created this mess in Chicago, where is our version of Rudy G to clean this up?
- wordslinger - Friday, Jul 13, 12 @ 1:40 pm:
–Once again this shows that liberalism has failed.–
How’s that, Joe? Enlighten us.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the states with the highest violent crime rates are, in order, South Carolina, Tennessee, Nevada, Florida and Louisiana.
I don’t think the “failure of liberalism” accounts for that. How do you account for it?
All those states have conceal-carry. Why are they so violent?
http://www.census.gov/statab/ranks/rank21.html