Posted on 10/05/2015 1:29:19 PM PDT by beaversmom
Any time an article is written about the overlap of gun violence and politics, there is one response that is guaranteed to be offered: "What about Chicago?" Say that mass shootings have occurred hundreds of times in the last few years and you're asked, "What about Chicago?" Talk about the politics of background check legislation and someone will respond, "What about Chicago?"
Well, let's try to answer that.
Chicago has become a go-to shorthand for opponents of gun-control legislation. That's in part thanks to President Obama calling Chicago home, the fact that the city's mayor is Obama ally Rahm Emanuel and the city's laws aimed at curtailing gun violence -- combined with what often feels like an endless number of shootings. Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report has made the "CHICAGOLAND" sobriquet a staple of his coverage of the city. Breitbart seized on September data for a story about how the city's September was its "deadliest in over a decade." Here's a real-time Twitter search for "Chicago" and "gun control." It's guaranteed to be well-stocked at any given moment.
There's no question that Chicago sees more gun violence than the rest of the country. Using data on mass shootings -- defined here as incidents in which four or more people were shot -- we can compare Chicago to the rest of the country. Since 2013, Chicago has seen 207 people wounded in mass shooting incidents and 32 killed -- far more than any other city. But without robust data on cities of smaller sizes than Chicago, it’s very difficult to know how exceptional Chicago’s per-capita mass shootings are.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Gun-control advocates hate to have to talk about Chicago because they have no come-back for it.
Sure they do. They can point to Detroit or Baltimore.
Contrast this with Detroit, where it has gotten so bad the police chief advised people to arm themselves because the police force was at the point they were unable to respond to the violence. In Chicago, you’re just a sitting duck.
Hmmm...I wonder what are some common components of these regions? We should ponder and study that for 30 or 40 seconds.
Not if you have round-the-clock police bodyguards, like Mayor Rahm.
Actually, I don't ask you a damn thing. I call you a liar and walk away.
Maybe Mr. Bump should look at another trend line. Gun control laws as compared with shooting crimes.
While no one on this site would be surprised by the result, I am sure Mr. Bump would be stuned. Then he would look for a way to blame Conservatives.
That's an answer? These people are nutso. 4 people killed is the defining stat? Liberals are insane.
3 or 4 seconds to think about it is more than enough time for anybody who lives in Realville.
Just let the guy enjoy his waffles or whatever it is that he's eating.
You’re right. What the heck was I thinking!? :)
Id wear a vest everyday in chicago.
I don’t want to ever step foot in one of those places. Ain’t my thing.
... I don't care what you say ... gun control clearly works!
0blama challenged the press, the other day, to compare the number of shooting deaths to those killed by terrorism.
I wonder what those actual numbers are, from 9/11 to date.
Such a small-minded thing to say, regardless.
Chicago is, in many ways, a basket case, just looking for a hole in the ground to be dropped into and covered up.
The financial status is running on fumes, and parts of the city are nearly as uninhabitable as corresponding parts of Detroit. A city council made up of equal parts of criminals and cronies with ties to the major banking houses, there has not been a Republican within striking distance of City Hall since the Chicago Tribune lost Colonel Robert R. McCormick, one-time managing editor, sometime in the 1950’s, about the time the Daley Machine got into full gear. In short, the very poster child for years of unchallenged Democrat exploitation, just not yet progressed as far as Baltimore or the aforementioned Detroit.
Now, Chicago used to be much more open about its love affair with guns, romanticizing the likes of Al Capone and its wide-open criminal/government joint enterprises. Chicago was the home of labor abuses and agitation, and drive-by shootings were probably, if not invented there, at least raised to an art form. But that was partially controlled by the various members of the populace, like merchants and business men, shooting back, from time to time, until the crime bosses got tired of all the amateur competition, and got the city council to outlaw most forms of personal gun ownership and conditions of use.
Now, only the various facets of the criminals have access to guns, mostly stolen or moved by black market channels.
There are gun laws that would crack down on this criminal practice, but they simply are not enforced in any consistent manner, or investigations are quickly shut down, because, in many instances, there are some pretty highly placed people who may be compromised by their involvement in this illicit trafficking in guns and ammunition.
It takes money, lots of it, to support this endless graft, and therein lie most of Chicago’s financial problems. They are rapidly running out of Other People’s Money, and the base for their revenue is getting a little small.
Chicago ain’t ready for reform.
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.