Posted on 04/25/2010 7:29:06 PM PDT by Whenifhow
Two state representatives called on Gov. Pat Quinn Sunday to deploy the Illinois National Guard to safeguard Chicago's streets.
Chicago Democrats John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford said they want Quinn, Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis to allow guardsmen to patrol streets and help quell violence. Weis said he did not support the idea because the military and police operate under different rules.
"Is this a drastic call to action? Of course it is," Fritchey said. "Is it warranted when we are losing residents to gun violence at such an alarming rate? Without question. We are not talking about rolling tanks down the street or having armed guards on each corner."
What he envisions, Fritchey said, is a "heightened presence on the streets," particularly on the roughly 9 percent of city blocks where most of the city's violent crimes occur.
Weis previously identified those "hot spots" and said he plans to create a 100-person team made up of selected and volunteer police personnel to respond to crime there. If guardsmen were to assist police, they could comprise or contribute to that force, Fritchey said.
So far this year, 113 people have been killed across Chicago, the same number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined in the same period, Fritchey said.
"As we speak, National Guard members are working side-by-side with our troops to fight a war halfway around the world," Fritchey said. "The unfortunate reality is that we have another war that is just as deadly taking place right in our backyard." While the National Guard has been deployed in other states to prevent violence related to specific events and protests, the Chicago legislators said they are unaware of guardsmen being deployed to assist with general urban unrest.
Weis countered that the only scenario in which the National Guard would be helpful is in the situation of a tornado, earthquake or flood. If the military were brought in to help with city violence, they wouldn't answer to police command -- creating a "major disconnect" in mission and strategy.
Alluding to the 1970 Kent State University incident where the National Guard was called in and protestors and students were shot, Weis said having guardsmen handle crime could be "disastrous." But he said if the Daley suggested it, he would consider the option.
"I'm open to anything that reduces violence. But I have concerns when you mix law enforcement and the military," Weis said.
But Fritchey and Ford said prompt action is needed because summer is right around the corner and with the warm weather comes an increase in violence.
Fritchey and Ford serve two different constituencies, representing the North Side and the West Side respectively. "One half of this city views this as a part of daily life," Fritchey said. "Another part of the city doesn't care because it doesn't affect them." Yet the lawmakers said they are coming together because gun violence should be a priority to all Chicagoans.
"No help is too much help" Ford said. "This is not just about the murders. It's about the crime. It's about people being stabbed, robbed and in the hospital on life support."
Fritchey said he spoke to representatives from Quinn's office about deploying guardsmen and they "seemed open to the idea." The lawmakers had yet to speak to Weis or the mayor's office.
"I don't anticipate the governor implementing it over the objection of the mayor," Fritchey said.
"I hope this doesn't become a territorial issue. I hope this doesn't become an ego issue. This isn't about public relations or politics. This is about reclaiming our communities."
More wonderful news from the “gun free” liberal Utopia of Chicagoland...
I bet the good people in the National Guard never signed on for THIS. I see another “Kent State” situation developing, on steroids. Police (as traditionally understood) and military just have different and incompatible orientations.
Of course, the NG would be expected to patrol without weapons... Ok, seriously, I would bet they would not have authorization to have magazines in their weapons.
How about two much simpler ideas? One, remove all the PC BS restrictions on the Police, thus allowing them to effectively do their jobs. Two, do not un-Constitutionally deny private citizens the right to protect themselves with firearms.
Now tell me what did Obama do that was considered so good for the people of the Southside of Chicago that he was elected President?
Facist Martial Law!!
Great and appropriate quote from a fictional character:
“There’s a reason you separate military and the police
. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.”
—Commander William Adama
Agree. This has all the appearance of another Leftist round about precedent setting manuever. Chicago...It’s too obvious.
I’ll see your previous post and raise you another :)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2499985/posts
How’s that Hopey Changey thing workin’ out for you, Chicago?
>State reps want to fight violence with National Guard’s help
This makes me wonder how the media would spin things if AZ tried to fight the violence of the protests against their new immigration law with their national guard...
>I bet the good people in the National Guard never signed on for THIS. I see another “Kent State” situation developing, on steroids. Police (as traditionally understood) and military just have different and incompatible orientations.
Not quite; one of congresses delegated powers in the Constitution [Art 1, sec 8] is:
“To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;”
Obama Land and the future he wants for all America.
What is keeping this country together anymore?
Great and appropriate quote from a fictional character:
“There’s a reason you separate military and the police
. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people.”
—Commander William Adama
****************
Study from the CATO Institute
http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/hb105-17.html
Excerpt:
17. The Expanding Federal Police Power
Congress should
* repeal all federal criminal statutes that involve conduct that takes place solely in one state, unless the conduct involves uniquely federal concerns, such as destruction of federal property; and
* tighten the Posse Comitatus Act so that it proscribes all use of military personnel and equipment, including the National Guard.
Since the 1980s the federal government has prompted the militarization of federal, state, and local law enforcement. That militarization has led not only to well-publicized disasters, such as Waco and Ruby Ridge, but to a widespread increase in violent law enforcement, which has played a major role in alienating Americans from their government. Such baleful consequences are the result of another dangerous trend, the expansion of the power of federal criminal justice far beyond its legitimate constitutional limits. Law and order begin at the top; the most important criminal justice reforms that Congress can enact are those that return federal law enforcement to its constitutional role.
Surround the roughly 9 percent of the city blocks with barb wire and an electric fence. At least keep the innocent folks out of the war zone.
A great deal of the problem in these ‘hoods hinges on the fact that these thugs are well known to the residents. The refusal of the residents to cooperate with the police makes it all the more difficult to track down these animals. Their “code of silence” is unto death as demonstrated by one punk telling the police as he lay dying, “I ain’t telling you s...” BTW, his mommy said he was a good boy despite a rap sheet of 14 arrests by the age of 17.
Sorry, the police aren’t there 24-7, the animals are.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.