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IL: Tragic shootings fuel call for assault weapons ban
Final Call (Nation Of Islam ) ^ | 4/3/06 | Richard Muhammad

Posted on 04/04/2006 10:13:58 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim

Tragic shootings fuel call for assault weapons ban in Illinois

By Richard Muhammad StraightWords e-zine Updated Apr 3, 2006, 11:06 am Refer this article

CHICAGO (FinalCall.com) - As a second mother prepared to bury a daughter hit by a stray bullet in the Englewood neighborhood, the mayor and governor repeated demands that assault weapons should be banned in the state.

But, for some, the outpouring of concern, marches, vigils and promises led to a question: What interest will remain once media coverage subsides?

“It is difficult to explain, explicable to understand, how two young children going about their lives—one at a birthday party, the other about to go to school—in their homes, safe presumably, and then both be victims of gun violence,” said Governor Rod Blagojevich, speaking Mar. 18 at a podium in the parking lot of Liberty Christian Church, before a march through the streets where Starkesia Reed, 14, and Siretha White, 10, died within a few blocks from each other.

Starkesia was killed Mar. 3 when a bullet fired from an assault rifle missed its target, but struck her as she dressed for school in her bedroom. Days later, Siretha was bubbling with excitement before shots rang out, apparently aimed at men sitting on the steps of the home where she was to celebrate her birthday. Reports have said the weapon used was an assault rifle or automatic weapon. Police said the Reed shooting was likely from a personal dispute and the White from gang-related violence.

It will be an uphill battle to pass a “common sense” law that would make assault weapons illegal, the governor complained. “These are weapons of mass destruction,” said Gov. Blagojevich, who blasted lawmakers that would “rather do the bidding of the gun lobby than protect neighborhoods like Englewood. No law-abiding citizen needs a semi-automatic assault weapon.”

The General Assembly failed to pass an assault weapons ban by two votes in the last legislative session, the governor informed. Pro-gun legislators need to visit Englewood and see the devastation wrought by military-style guns, he argued.

“There is no excuse, no excuse, for anyone to sell dope to any child in any community. There is no excuse for anyone to take a gun and point it at a child or at a home in any community,” said Mayor Richard Daley. He was flanked by Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), Alderwoman Latasha Thomas, state lawmakers Jackie Collins and Mary Flowers, other political, religious leaders and community leaders with reporters, TV cameras and residents from across the city in front of him.

Mayor Daley said the federal government must increase its fight against drug and gun trafficking. Neither the guns nor the drugs originate in Englewood; they cross international borders and end in the neighborhood, he said. He also urged support for legislation that would limit gun purchases to one a month and ban assault weapons.

“We want to see all of you two months from now. We want to hear from you two months from now in Englewood,” said Alderman Thomas, one of five aldermen that represent the Englewood neighborhood.

After the media statements, marchers wound down several streets, passing the block where the White family was preparing for Siretha’s funeral, which attracted hundreds of people, and ended up on the steps of the home of Denise Reed, Starkesia’s mother. Anti-drug chants and calls for residents to come out of their homes echoed in the streets along the way.

Finding solutions to problems

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich renews call for assault weapon ban in Illinois prior to anti-violence march after the deaths of two young girls, killed by stray bullets from assault-style or automatic weapons.

Clergy and local politicians must go to the state capitol to lobby for passage of an assault weapons ban, insisted Reverend Walter Johnson, of Wayman A.M.E. Church in Cabrini Green. “These AK-47’s were never made for anything other than killing innocent people,” he said.

“It’s really important for us to unite across the city to get involved to make sure that every community and every neighborhood is safe,” added Rev. Johnson, who grew up in Englewood.

Others welcomed the statements by the governor and mayor, but noted that Englewood residents have worked for over a year to craft “The Making A Difference In Quality of Life Plan In Englewood.”

Johnnie Muhammad, an organizer with Teamwork Englewood, explained the plan seeks to analyze the underlying causes of violence and other problems. It outlines programmatic responses, with multi-year financial commitments from the McArthur Foundation, he said. It includes 46 different projects, with 10 strategies for redevelopment, in the areas of economics and jobs, housing, public safety health and recreation, community life, and arts and culture. Community residents co-chair working groups and evaluate project progress, he explained.

The mayor, governor and others said positive things about what generally needs to occur in a community like Englewood, Mr. Muhammad said, noting however that all violence is not gang and drug-related. If the diagnosis is off, money may be spent on areas that don’t address the real causes, he observed. Some resources may be needed to generally show youth ways to resolve conflict without violence, he said.

‘We struggle around here every day’

“These mothers’ pain, I feel it. I live it every day. Every little bit helps, things like this help,” shared Latonya McClendon, standing in front of the Reed family home. The Roseland neighborhood resident marched to show support for the Englewood mothers who lost their children. Her son was beaten to death on his 17th birthday.

“It’s not about all the cameras and the newspapers, it’s about the mothers. If nobody else can do this, us mothers can, because a mother’s love is indescribable,” stressed Ms. McClendon, who provides grief counseling and turned her pain into a ministry. The deaths of young Black males often get less attention because of stereotypes, she pointed out.

There was tension outside the Reed home as counter-demonstrators with bullhorns blasted the mayor, police and pastors for neglecting the Englewood community, which has more than its share of poverty, unemployment and failing schools.

Joseph Watkins, of V.O.T.E. (Voice of the EX-Offender), was one of those critical voices. Besides crooked cops involved in drug and gun-dealing and efforts to push Blacks out as gentrification sweeps across the city, Black politicians, pastors, businessmen and other prominent people have failed to do anything for poor people, ex-offenders and youth, he contended.

Millions are going to be spent in Black neighborhoods and people could have been trained for jobs, but the city didn’t do it, Mr. Watkins said. Out-of-touch politicians need to give resources to groups doing real grassroots work, he advised.

“They’re targeting the wrong things. These kids are not the problem, it’s the administrators, the ones that oversee and bring these things into our community. That’s what the problem is,” he said.

“We struggle around here every day and don’t nobody come over here and help us. They don’t know what’s going on. Ask one of these drug dealers why they out here selling drugs. They want to eat, they need somebody to help them!” said Latricia Lee, a 22-year-old Englewood resident, fed up with the neglect.

“I’m scared my baby is going to die,” she said, pointing to a toddler nearby. “This ain’t just started. It’s the whole Black community; it’s not just Englewood. Don’t just help one, help everybody,” she sobbed.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; US: Illinois
KEYWORDS: banglist; dimorats; immigrantlist; islam; terrorism
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1 posted on 04/04/2006 10:14:01 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
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To: kiriath_jearim

Hey, instead of going after the guns, how about they go after the drug dealers, who are killing in turf wars?


2 posted on 04/04/2006 10:17:47 AM PDT by theDentist (Qwerty ergo typo : I type, therefore I misspelll.)
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To: kiriath_jearim

assault this assault that ...

this reporter hasn't a clue.

I'll bet these deaths wouldn't have been prevented EVEN if the bill they want gets enacted.

We're these weapons owned by law abiding citizens?

We all know that only the law abiding pay attention to the laws.

Idiots.


3 posted on 04/04/2006 10:19:27 AM PDT by George from New England
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To: kiriath_jearim
I finally figured out why blacks are so sold on gun control.

Generations of defining themselves as victims has rendered them incapable of assigning responsibility for criminal actions to another black.

Their only option when a black thug sprays bullets at random and kills an innocent person is to blame the gun.

Can't blame the thug. Must blame the gun.

4 posted on 04/04/2006 10:19:46 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam Factoid:After forcing young girls to watch his men execute their fathers, Muhammad raped them.)
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To: kiriath_jearim
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Ben Franklin

5 posted on 04/04/2006 10:21:14 AM PDT by Vaquero ("An armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: theDentist

Naw...that would make too much sense.


6 posted on 04/04/2006 10:21:49 AM PDT by Luna (Lobbing the Holy Hand Grenade at Liberalism)
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To: theDentist
No law-abiding citizen needs a semi-automatic assault weapon

It is a Bill of RIGHTS, not a bill of needs

7 posted on 04/04/2006 10:22:12 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: kiriath_jearim
Reports have said the weapon used was an assault rifle or automatic weapon.

And they know this how???

Notice how drug trafficking and gun ownership are equated, in the sense that both must be controlled? Yo, demagogues! You might want to consider that one of these activities is already illegal, while one is constitutionally protected. For ten points and a chance at the bonus round, which is which? C'mon! No help from the audience, please ...

8 posted on 04/04/2006 10:22:19 AM PDT by IronJack
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To: kiriath_jearim

In a sane society the recourse would be to eliminate the problem of perpetrators who know no decency.


9 posted on 04/04/2006 10:24:52 AM PDT by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

"Can't blame the thug. Must blame the gun."

***

Good point. But what happens if the gun is also "black", e.g. AR15, H&K91, etc.?


10 posted on 04/04/2006 10:26:27 AM PDT by kiriath_jearim
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To: kiriath_jearim

Visit the site, then click on the Columns link on the left side of the page

you'll find some interesting articles on white rule etc.


11 posted on 04/04/2006 10:29:39 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: George from New England

"No law-abiding citizen needs a semi-automatic assault weapon.”

This should be phrased as "no subject needs an assualt weapon"

We know the people affected by these "laws" are'nt the ones shooting folks.

An un-armed man is no longer free. These politicians can go to hell.


12 posted on 04/04/2006 10:31:37 AM PDT by 383rr (Those who choose security over liberty deserve neither- GUN CONTROL=SLAVERY)
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To: kiriath_jearim
"...Out-of-touch politicians need to give resources to groups doing real grassroots work, he advised..."

Yep, and the implied recipient is the Nation of Islam. They want us to give up our guns and subsidize them. Without our AK-47s, AR-15s, and 50 cal sniper rifles, they'll have us White Weenies out gunned. Of course we could still outfight and out-shoot the Islamic cheater zip wads even if we used flintlocks.

To paraphrase Dave Barry, nothing is more American than an AK-47.
13 posted on 04/04/2006 10:34:24 AM PDT by Monterrosa-24 (France kicked Germany's teeth out at Verdun among other places.)
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To: Monterrosa-24

"The earth actually belongs to the Black Man. This is made clear in the Bible and Holy Qur’an. The prophetic sayings of the prophets for 4,000 years from Moses have constantly warned the present rulers (White) that the day of showdown was coming and that the world belongs to the Original Owners (Black Nation).

The White race was given a limited time (6,000 years) to be the overlord (White) of our earth and ourselves. He is well aware of it (time). The White man is well aware that he does not own the earth and that he had no part in its creation. The scientists of the White race well know this, but, nevertheless, as it is written (Bible) Jer. 49:21, we see that today trouble is brewing everywhere; even between Black and Black where it should not be. But where Black wants to live with White and does not want to take his responsibility to go for self, Black has trouble with Black due to this desire. Integration is against the Desire and Will of God Who Wants and must Do that which is written He Will Come and Do: Restore the earth to its rightful owner (Black Man).

The White world, as it goes out, has not been asleep to its responsibility. They have been building up their arms and arsenal and factories for this day, in order to kill the Black Man. They are doing this in so many ways with drugs and the surgeon’s knife in the hospitals. It is the greatest desire of the White man that he does not leave the Black Man in position to keep populating the earth under his own color. Our women are the target. They want to stop them from bearing children. Millions of our women fall for this destruction of their race."




14 posted on 04/04/2006 10:36:48 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: ansel12

I guess I should point out, that was a cut and paste from the site, it isn't an opinion I share.


15 posted on 04/04/2006 10:38:11 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: kiriath_jearim

[It will be an uphill battle to pass a “common sense” law that would make assault weapons illegal, the governor complained. “These are weapons of mass destruction,” said Gov. Blagojevich, who blasted lawmakers that would “rather do the bidding of the gun lobby than protect neighborhoods like Englewood. No law-abiding citizen needs a semi-automatic assault weapon.” ]

I quit reading it here. Would an additional law that forbids people from shooting "automatic" rifles at each other in a residential neighborhood have saved these kids from being shot? How about we pass a law making it illegal to shoot people from cars? What if we just made it illegal for folks to kill other folks for any other reason that self defense? No, no, I got it. What if we say that assault rifles are not to be sold to criminals? Or, we could pass a law that criminals are not allowed to have guns. If nothing else, Illinois could pass a law that did not allow anyone in the state to have a loaded weapon with them at any time except at a gun range or in their own house.

I am sure if they had laws like that, these kids would not have been shot.


16 posted on 04/04/2006 10:41:47 AM PDT by Tenacious 1 (Not today.)
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To: kiriath_jearim
Blah, blah, Blogovich, Daley, Schumer, et al.

Don't bother addressing the CONDITIONS that permit young men to shoot at one another on the street with RIFLES, undeterred and without fear. That would be too much like introspection.

Better to blame the TOOL, even though BY DEFINITION CRIMINALS IGNORE LAWS.

Gotta deflect blame somehow, might as well invoke the AK47 excuse.

17 posted on 04/04/2006 10:44:38 AM PDT by xsrdx (Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas)
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To: Puppage

Yes they do and they need full auto weapons, also, if they are to defend against enemies foreign and domestic, tyranical governments and just plain old every day scum of the earth.


18 posted on 04/04/2006 10:46:12 AM PDT by looscnnn ("Olestra (Olean) applications causes memory leaks" PC Confusious)
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To: theDentist

Did you read about why the drug dealers are dealing drugs? "They need to eat". BARF! Those asshats ought to be placed in some of the HONEST "jobs Americans just won't do"!


19 posted on 04/04/2006 10:52:27 AM PDT by Frank_2001
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To: kiriath_jearim
an assault rifle missed its target

Well son of a gun! Those things do hunt on their own!

Another case of a party without ideas trying to create something to run on...
20 posted on 04/04/2006 10:52:57 AM PDT by P-40 (http://www.590klbj.com/forum/index.php?referrerid=1854)
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