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Chicago police say already this year, they have seized more than 680 guns citywide. Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said that large number illustrates the need for tougher gun penalties.
"There are parts of this city, on the south and west side, where we’re fighting with the gangs to get the guns off the street and stop the violence," McCarthy said.
With a national focus on Chicago and what many view as an alarming murder rate, McCarthy and Mayor Rahm Emanuel have repeatedly insisted that for the most part, the city is actually very safe, with isolated but very violent pockets.
An analysis of crime statistics would seem to bear that out. While Chicago’s 20th Ward on the south side had an astounding 34 homicides in the last year, and the 24th Ward on the west side had another 30, there are two wards in the city, the 40th and 43rd, where there were no murders at all.
Indeed, another 15 wards had three murders or fewer in the last year.
But at the same time, seven wards saw more than 19 homicides. The 16th ward, on Chicago’s south side, had 28.
In every case, the most violent communities are also the city’s poorest.
"It terrorizes people," said Ald. Willie Cochran, whose 20th ward tops the murder list.
Cochran is a former police officer, who has backed the Superintendent’s crime reduction strategy. But he says it is hard for residents of his community to take comfort in crime statistics which show other parts of the city are safe, when they live in constant fear.
"I want my community to be safe now," he said.
McCarthy noted that already this year, his officers have made over two and a half times the number of gun arrests than their counterparts in New York City, a metropolis three times the size of Chicago. McCarthy blames what he views as lax gun laws in Chicago, where he says violations of gun ordinances draw only a six-month maximum sentence.
"Everybody says Chicago has tough gun laws," McCarthy said. "Patently false."
Earlier Monday, a group of high school students skipped school to stage a march to the spot where King College Prep High School student Hadiya Pendleton was gunned down last week.
"Every single day, people are shot out here, and it’s us kids," said student Chelsea James. "We’re supposed to bury our mothers. Not our mothers burying us."
Choking back tears, fellow student Jordan Willis pleaded with Mayor Emanuel to pour more resources into the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods.
"We’re trying to help our future," she said. "If all the future’s dying, then there’s nothing left."
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Rahm has to face a few facts: The issue is gangs, illegal activities, and warped community perspective- not people obeying the laws and legal gun ownership. Of the noted neighborhoods, do they have a "no snitchin" mentality? Pimpin' ok with them? Maybe they are afraid of the gangs? Does the city try to give the kids something else to do after school then stand on a street corner?
I think it's a cultural problem- They advocate drugs, gangs, night life, drinking, masogony, etc. through their music, movies, tv, and community activities then distain the killing- yet don't help the police fix the problems. Screwed up thinking will make these problems continue.
Safest place in the country though- no guns allowed. Great roll model for the rest of us.
No Joe, it has to be the AR-15's...
"We're supposed to bury our mothers. Not our mothers burying us." No mention of the fathers. Do these people even realize they also had a father? Of those who do realize it, do any of them know who he was?
Or in the famed comment by a young woman on the Maury Povich show once said "I just wanna know who my baby daddy is!!"
Chicago: Strict gun control - excessive homicides
D.C.: Strict gun control - excessive homicides
New York City: Strict gun control - excessive homicides
Yes, we see how well gun control works in some of the most violent cities in the country(sic).
It's a misconception that guns are not allowed in Chicago. Handguns are not allowed, but you can own a shotgun.
Is there nothing that can be done to clean out that rats nest ????
What is the reason for nothing being done ????? The police don't go into those neighborhoods because they are out maned & out gunned ?? Maybe they are on the take ?? Or maybe the city government just turns a blind to them .
I agree with some posters above. The gangs are a subculture unto themselves. The only way to put an end to this violence , is to take back the streets one by one. Arrest the parents of these gang bangers and charge them with aiding and abetting in the crimes they commit ( that is if they are not already in jail ). They should also be prosecuted under the RICO act. As they are a criminal organization.
Uhhhhh, Mr. McCarthy.....if YOU are reading my post, it is insane for you to even think that "stricter gun penalties" are going to change a gang member's mind about obtaining a gun ILLEGALLY.
Time for you to hit the Chicago streets and politely ASK gang members to turn over the weapons. See how that goes and what the response will be.
That would be like "talking to al Qaida" and expecting the result of peace and harmony throughout the World.
Suppose there was a law that stated the mayor of Chicago had to live 1/2 year in the most impoverished, criminally active part of the city. How fast do you think he would have to move because the police department cleaned it up?
And most of those 84% custodial mother parents are probably working and not taking care of their "children". Therefore, prime targets for gang indoctrination.
It would be interesting to see statistics on the number of inmates in Chicago with a single mother parent.
However, gotta blame everything on GUNS and not on social issues.
That's the only way the plan works.
Keep blaming the guns, knowing that none of the laws being passed will make a damn bit of difference. And when they don't, you say there is a need to make even more restrictive laws... you keep doing that until there is a complete repeal of the Second Amendment.
From Joe Biden himself last week:
Sorry poor people but since you are Democrat slaves they will always talk but they know they own your vote. Sucks to be you but in the future stop voting based on R or D and start voting on those that willing to try and fix the problems.
The last national election showed the battle being fought in only a few states. Candidates did not waste effort where they knew they had the vote locked up. Its not a matter of liberal or conservative but how apathetic and ignorant American voters are to the issues.
Guarantee if the Mayor and any of these Ward Bosses were worried about losing your vote they would be doing something to address the issues important to you.
Just remember, Dictator Saddam Hussein garnered 98 percent of the vote in his last "election."
This is the same area represented by JJ jr who was "resting" in mental ward, never campaigned and still won reelection. yeah, they sure DONT need to earn those votes.
Yeah navyvet, your compassion - republican compassion oozes all over the place! Democrats may be poor and an ethnic minority but they are not stupid. You and the republicans that you suggest the "poor people" vote for are not to be trusted.
Here's one option... Pack up your family and leave the intolerable, high-crime urban zones behind - if you truly want to change the situation. Change your perspective and see the world in a different way!
Yes, it is that simple...
Yeah Navyvet, it's idiots like you who continue to believe party lines have anything to do with violence. I suppose the dangerous idiot who held the young boy hostage was a democrat. Has nothing to do with party lines. As for those who are getting "free Stuff" seems to me that describes the GOP in congress who never work. When will repubs stop being idiots? I suppose the young guy who killed all the folks in Newtown was a democrat. Yeah right, in that upscale area. Folks in these communities kill each other because the cities don't want to put money into having police on each block. That's why the gangs feel so powerful. Cops not around. The folks in these communities don't count to some politicians.Instead of repubs stealing our tax dollars they should be looking out for every citizen to make sure we all have equal rights!
Kluib
and tell me Precious... who has the authority to put more cops on the streets? The Mayor!!!! Guess what... he is elected.. probably just like Daley ... elected for life.
You proved my post more than you disparaged. Its not about Republican or Democrat or whatever Dimwit party you align yourself with. It is about politicians that know they owe blocks of votes. Let them know they do not owe you and you will see them more than elections day. They take your money.. give a fraction back and you thank them for it like they are benevolent.
Thanks again.. your post proves fools vote without thought.
I suppose that is why all you fools vote for GOP who are under the thumb of Norquist and the NRA who are a part of the gun problem. You really believe that many of those gun buyers are not making a profit selling to those neightborhoods? It's now always the front lines that need to be checked. Check behind the scenes and see who the real culprits are.
Navy Vet
You can't fix stupid. That was illustrated last election when the worst President ever was reelected.
Liberals are proud of their ignorance
Sore loosers again. It will be ok. Maybe in a hundred years your backward party will win again.
KLuib,
Ad hominem attacks, the only weapon you people have anymore. I hate to break this to you, we ALL lost. Wait for another year or two and you'll be whining about how bad things are.
No because contrary to what you may think I don't live off the government. I have survived through any president this country has had. I worked two jobs at a time like my mom and many in my family. I have one daughter graduated from college with a degree and a good job and one more in college who will do just as well. I told you, none of you really know Blacks. Only what you read from the negative media. But that's ok. We Blacks are use to that. Meanwhile many of us are quietly moving forward.
If they put cops on every corner in the troubled wards, the residents will be screaming "racial profiling" just like they did in NYC with Mayor Giuliani implemented that city's crack down.
When the violence is predominantly Black on Black, you don't focus on the Asians.
@KLuib- Please keep moving forward and try to motivate those around you that have given up the American dream. Hard work and perseverance are the keys to success, no matter what race you are.
concernedone... I understand!!! Most of these people would rather continue their babbling and not try actually thinking.
"When the violence is predominantly Black on Black, you don't focus on the Asians."
Have you not been following the illegal immigration stories? An estimated 70% of all illegals are considered Hispanic, but if law enforcement pulls over a Hispanic and ask if they are in the country illegally, they are considered a racist.
You understand the logic, right?
@hs321
No, that's considered ethnical profiling. "Hispanic" is an ethnicity of any race (white, black, Asian or Native) not a race. Police harassing citizens is against our U.S. laws.
This comment carries the stench of racism and the burden of ignorance. The poor are no more likely to be Republican or Democrat. Rural America is filled with proud citizens who vote their 'gun rights', 'religious freedom' and racial intolerance while happily accepting Social Security Disability, Welfare, Farm Subsidies, Government Pensions and Medicaid. These are the same people who can say in the same breath... No Socialized Medicine, but keep your hands off of my Medicare! The irony of this idiocy is astounding. The areas of Chicago this article discusses were, only a generation ago, proud bastions of working class families. They were multi-ethnic, prosperous, safe and self policing. American industry declined and departed under the Republican (Reagan) policies of deindustrialization. We incentivized our industries to take manufacturing offshore while promising that a 'Service Economy' would feed our population. At the same time we initiated a 'War on Drugs' that criminalized a generation of urban youth. Then we turned our National priorities to fighting global wars against imaginary enemies, starving the treasury and enriching the defense industry. The decline of urban America was the inevitable result. A cynic might say this was by design. The most liberal states are subsidizing the most conservative states. Illinois is one of those states that sends far more to Washington than it gets back. States like Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and West Virginia tout their 'values' while also living off of the taxes of the 'liberals'. The reason Republicans generally fail to get elected in urban areas is that Republicans have tragically failed to represent voters in urban areas.
Having a Hispanic grandchild, who is whiter than I am, believe me I know the difference between race and ethnicity. However, on many of comment sections, liberals are quick to call anyone who says anything negative about a Hispanic a racist and/or xenophobe. I was merely addressing the intellectual level of the average liberal on this comment section. One of which you are clearly not.
If this is true perhaps Chicago could employ an aggressive stop and frisk policy in these areas. If there is one reason NYC's overall crime rate, especially homicides, has plummeted from some 25 or 30 years ago it is from this practice. Forget the privacy issue, the racial profiling concerns, the civil rights activists and give it a try. Nothing else, including strict gun control laws, stop the violence marches, and prayer vigils seems to have much effect
Chicago police say already this year, they have seized more than 680 guns citywide. Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said that large number illustrates the need for tougher gun penalties. Really-it tells me it is not working.
When you take into account that probably 99% of the guns seized were obtained illegally, it really points to the failure of gun laws. Laws don't apply to criminals, only law abiding citizens.
Wouldn't logic tells us that those guns were manufactured and then sold to someone? Understood, the same gun might be sold many times. But stricter gun laws would tell us who own that gun at present, right? Unless that gun is REPORTED stolen, authorities should know who owns it.
"But stricter gun laws would tell us who own that gun at present, right?"
Are you assuming that if the government said every gun in the U.S. had to be registered that criminals would actually register their guns?
If someone is killed with a stolen gun, does it make any difference to their loved ones if the gun was reported stolen?
Of course not, but authorities will know where the gun came from and its serial number. They will be looking for something instead of a "lost in the woods" and life threatening object.
My point is, there needs to be more control and accountability of guns in our country. While the city of Chicago might be confiscating hundreds of them (considered lost) national crime networks should be aware of them and every time they are used. Remember every shot from a gun has a distinctive mark.
You are aware of the number of guns stolen each year. You probably should know that many criminals file the serial number off the gun in order to remove the connection from the theft of the gun.
To no avail. It was possible maybe 40 years ago, but not today. And as far as the great quantity of guns stolen, we have enough technology today to cover that with our networks. But you probably have another solution, like banning some types of weapons or restricting purchases?? What we cannot do is don't do anything at all and live with the increasing amount of massacres and crime every year.
Maybe ALL confiscated guns in Chicago were stolen, maybe they were purchased by criminals or family/friends, who knows. We just need solutions based on our times.
I will state that it is my opinion that some legal firearm owners do not adequately secure their firearms. There are too many accidents, suicides and juvenile related incidents involving firearms to suggest that firearms are adequately secured by their owners. There are too many successful thefts of firearms to suggest that legal firearms are adequately secured. But, the fact is, the majority of firearms obtained by criminals, were through illegal means. No law or laws are going to prevent that. Criminals do not obey laws.
The technology available today in identifying any object could be thwarted by criminals while maintaining the functionality of the firearm.
I like the scanner that could be used to determine if a firearm is on a person. I have a concealed carry permit. I could care less if the police scanned me to see that I have a firearm. I could care less if a police officer approached me regarding my firearm. I have my permit, it's all good to me. Other people believe the scanner to be an invasion of privacy. I say that if you are trying to cut down on illegal possession of a firearm and you are in a high crime neighborhood, it's fair game. Stop and frisk worked very well in NYC.
Ban Neighborhoods!
Is there a certain kind of neighborhood that were talking about here? Hahahahahaha!!!
What? Things not working out so well for the Obamabots on the Urban Welfare Ghetto Plantations??? Guess that rat and roach infested Section 8 housing, those dumbed down public schools, that promise of public safety if they give up all their guns, those drug and crime inundated neighborhoods... not such a good deal after all for the free stuff... Those Good Ole Boy Democrats are laughing their asses off... after blacks fought for equal rights... they walked right back into a different kind of slavery engineered by the same Dems who used to burn crosses on their lawns and hang them in the woods... and to boot, those Dems have gotten blacks to adopt an upside down value system so that they won't leave the plantation... playing the system and being a deadbeat is "cool" and any black that uses their brains and guts to succeed is an "Uncle Tom"... and they're so busy being victims that that they don't see who's really playing them...
The smart one's are moving back to the South where they're treated better. You know, to be around all those "evil" republicans that freed them in the first place.
careful there peanut....we don't want to be seen as profiling.....
Homework assignment:
Compare and contrast the National Welfare System to the National Park System.
Hint: Any time you enter a National Park, someone will give you a handful of information that includes "Do Not Feed the Bears." Why? Because (1) the bears' ability to find food on their own is reduced as they become accustomed to being fed, and (2) bears who become accustomed to being fed by humans can become a nuisance, and are often trapped or shot to protect humans.
so much hate...
WOW ... Very well said... Agree 100%
So it is not guns it is societal problems so why is the debate about guns? If you stop and frisk you will have the ACLU on your back, kind of the lefts answer to the NRA. Black leadership has failed, they are not talking about personal responsibility, babies having babies, males not taking responsibility for their actions. One thing that needs to be understood, there is no more money so don't expect it. Taxpayers pay to keep the problem in those few neighborhoods, and keep it out of ours so it is on those neighborhoods to fix it themselves.
Stats out today via freedom of information act, NYC is 53% black and hispanic, while stop and frisk is 90 percent black and hispanic, of course this is what gets put out as the statistics, but the stop and frisk takes place in the neighborhoods that have the highest crime rates, and these neighborhoods have close to 100% black and hispanic residents, but that will not help the ACLU lawsuit, and eventual gimme gimme lawsuits of the racial arsonists. No one telling us what percent of violent crime in NYC is perpetrated by non-black and non-hispanic, but guarantee you it is not proportional to the non-hispanic and non-black population, i.e. they are responsible for much less than 47% of the crime.
Chicago should do similar in their high crime districts and disregard what race they stop, as long as it lowers the violent crime. Violat their rights instead of the law abiding gun owners.
If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. - Chinese Proverb
Beautiful proverb, but I'm not counting on it being fulfilled. Too many people with no light in their souls. E.G. gang members.
And the Red State Indiana is a Short Taxi or Bus Hop Away:
http://gun.laws.com/state-gun-laws/indiana-gun-laws
Are the laws (gun laws or any other) different in the violent 20th and 24th Wards or the safe 40th and 43rd Wards?
Hummmmmmm.............. maybe it's not an issue of more or less laws. Of course the legislators want to enact more laws so they can say, 'There, I did something'. They will not address the true problems of fatherless children, drugs, and rewards for a life of crime and scamming the system.
It's not a problem of laws or lack thereof, it's a problem of culture. A culture that the Left mostly supports. They seem to back every legislation that tends to break up the family unit. It all comes back to the family. Today's loony left think it's OK to tell young girls they don't need a "father" for their baby.
Wait! How are guns getting into these areas?? I never seen any Black folks who are gun runners. I've never seen any Black folks who are in charge of the Big Drug runners. Most of these folks are white. I say get rid of the white gun runners and drug suppliers and most of the problems solved. The biggest problem in these communities is that the law goes after the "small guys" when they should go after the Big suppliers. Where are gangbangers getting their guns from and drugs? Yep! you got it. Somebody White!
The biggest problem in these communities are the people that live there !!!!
Klub, you may or may not be right about gun runners Last time I checked black people could drive cars out of state to buy guns. Regardless, it is black on black murders- 94% of black males in this country are killed by other black males. Don't blame whitey for that.
That's right KLuib, keep ignoring the people who are doing the killing. Maybe if blacks would stop shootin......nevermind. You're a clueless racist.
When will obama congratulate Grandpa No-snitch for his 17 year NFL career and recent Superbowl win. That Ray Lewis is a great role model for black youth and inner city residents, do not snitch on murderers, it could be your family member or friend they kill tomorrow.
Ray Lewis what a great man, cannot wait to see the president kissing his butt, like he does with Al Sharpton racial arsonist and race baiting riot starting anti-semite.
Why do idiots like you always have to connect President Obama to these stories. From looking at the president and his family I would say he is a very strong roll model for every citizen in this country.No president is responsible for idiots. Just like Bush is not responsible for white idiots like the man who shot the bus driver and held the kid hostage. The president has nothing to do with Ray Lewis or any other idiot in this society. It is whites who support people like Ray Lewis everytime you pay hundreds of dollars to buy tickets to sport games. Everytime you watch it on tv. I would say you are the one who feels these people are role models. If anybody is kissing his butt it is you everytime you watch sports.
Kluib
You have some serious racism issues you need to address. I guess you are saying obama hates AR-15s because they are black. I was wrong about you before.. you suffer from self inflicted blindness. Thanks for judging people based on their skin color. The atypical, hypocritical liberal.
Well said.
I have no racial issues. People like you and the others on here who put all Blacks in one basket have serious racial issues. None of you probably don't know a Black person and I am not talking about at work or by passing by. I have lived in these commnities and have seen how one or two idiots on a block commit violent crimes and all of a sudden ALL BLACKS condone this actions.Well they don't. There have been many rallies against this type of violence. I worked two jobs all my life to keep my daughter in a private school because the school systems in these communities are the worst and many teachers who are not black have no care about challenging the students and not concern about them dropping out. When I went to school we had Black teachers teaching us who were very much concerned about our future. THere are many hard working Blacks in these communities who do the best they can. Whites sit back everyday and talk about other cultures and what they need to do but it's those who realize what these kids are up against. Parents who are not able to get jobs because of the economy or other cultures coming into our communities and getting work for less. When you have an oppressed people sure there will be violence. How many of you even realize for the one or two who commit crimes there are 10 or 20 that succeed? Now of you. You talk about hand outs and criticize us for not voting republicans a party that does not care about lining anybody's pockets but their own. The republicans are the biggest gangsters in the world and the biggest murderers in the world. Only they don't use guns. They use influence. You can keep your republican party. If you think 35 dollars a month for foodstamps is something to jump up everyday and smile about you are crazy. There is no entitlements. Welfare is workfare. My SSD is what I made working two jobs over forty years and having one daughter out of university and one in. Before you draw conclusions about people get to know what you are talking about. It's easy to sit behind a computer and say what the media tells you.
Kluib...just want to point out that you're saying the majority of white people have one view of blacks that is incorrect.
Then you turn right around and spout off the same talking points about Republicans as every republican was greedy, power-monger. You can't seriously believe Republicans have a hold on corruption, greed and power-mongering.
KLuib - you might as well wear a "I'm a Rabid Racist" T-Shirt. Because that my friend, is exactly what you are.
No thank you. I don't want to take your t shirt from you. Blacks aren't racist. We did not invent racism. Whites are the most racist culture in the world. Never have I seen or heard any Black in the media criticizing and calling the POTUS names nor have I ever heard or seen any Black threatening the POTUS or any elected officials. Never have I heard or seen any Black paranoid about this country to the extent that they go crazy and harm others. Mass murder. Whites have a deeply ingrained racism for any culture that isn't theirs. Not all but many of you. YOu feel you can say what you want but then apologize and it is ok. Everyday people like Mccain, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity and the list goes on and on make dumb racist comments about the President, his wife (butt) and his family. You never hear of Blacks doing this. Your problem runs deep. You are what you accuse us of being. Blacks have one problem, Black gangs, outside of that, we are decent honest hardworking people who have fought for this country and made great contributions to this country. I am glad to be Black. Very proud of my people and their accomplishments. I went to an all white school in the 60s and it was whites who spit on me, punched me in the stomack and called us all kinds of names. Today at our HBCU people of all cultures attend and they are greatly welcomed. It would be an entirely different scene at an all white college or job.
Since the POTUS is half white, a point which a lot of people conveniently forget, is it hard for a white person to attack him racially. See how that works.
Blacks aren't racist. Wrong. We did not invent racism. Maybe. Whites are the most racist culture in the world. Doubtful. Never have I seen or heard any Black in the media criticizing and calling the POTUS names (maybe not this POTUS, but the last POTUS) nor have I ever heard or seen any Black threatening the POTUS or any elected officials. Never have I heard or seen any Black paranoid about this country to the extent that they go crazy and harm others, (LIRR massacre was a deranged black man blaming this country). Mass murder (LIRR Masacre). Whites have a deeply ingrained racism for any culture that isn't theirs (no we are tired of being forced to celebrate others cultures while they demean ours). Not all but many of you. YOu feel you can say what you want but then apologize and it is ok (You mean like the Reverend Jackson calling NYC hymie town?). Everyday people like Mccain, Limbaugh, Coulter, Hannity and the list goes on and on make dumb racist comments about the President, his wife (butt) and his family. You never hear of Blacks doing this. Your problem runs deep. You are what you accuse us of being. Blacks have one problem (understatement), Black gangs, outside of that, we are decent honest hardworking people (not all but many of you) who have fought for this country and made great contributions to this country. I am glad to be Black. Very proud of my people and their accomplishments. I went to an all white school in the 60s and it was whites who spit on me, punched me in the stomack and called us all kinds of names (I went to a 40-60 black -white school, and it was mostly blacks that bullied whites, especially jewish whites and robbed them at knifepoint before school, no not all blacks but more blacks then whites did this). Today at our HBCU people of all cultures attend and they are greatly welcomed. It would be an entirely different scene at an all white college or job, (no such thing as all white colleges or jobs).
Uh people- If you consider any race inferior to your own, you are a racist. Period.
"Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said that large number illustrates the need for tougher gun penalties."
Now who wouldn't agree with that. Commit a crime with a gun, or have a gun illegally, 20 yrs. end of story. Murder, a rope and a tree. We have the laws, we don't need any new gun restrictions, enforce the laws we have. Crooks and gang bangers don't care about the laws anyway. The real problem all across the country is society, people, lack of respect and the list could go on.
Illinois does not issue concealed carry licenses, nor does it accept CCLs issued by other states. It is the only state that has no provision for the concealed carry of firearms by citizens.[10] (In compliance with the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, retired police officers who qualify annually under state guidelines are allowed to carry concealed.)[11] Open carry is also illegal, except when hunting, or in a fixed place of business with owner's permission, or in one's abode. When a firearm is being transported, it must be unloaded and enclosed in a case.[12] There are several pending lawsuits challenging the state's prohibition of the carrying of firearms in public.[13][14]
On December 11, 2012, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in the case of Moore v. Madigan, ruled that Illinois' concealed carry ban is unconstitutional, and gave the state 180 days to change its laws.[15] On January 8, 2013, the Illinois attorney general requested that this decision be reviewed by the full appeals court.[16]
Several rural counties have refused to enforce the statewide prohibition on concealed carry.[17]
Other state laws
Article 1 section 22 of the Illinois Constitution states, "Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."[18]
When purchasing a handgun in Illinois there is a 72-hour waiting period after the sale before the buyer can take possession. The waiting period for a rifle or shotgun is 24 hours.[12]
When a firearm is sold by a licensed dealer, the seller is required to provide a gun lock, unless the firearm itself includes an integrated locking mechanism.[19]
A gun owner can be charged with a crime if a minor under the age of 14 gains access their firearm when it is unsecured (i.e. not locked in a box or secured with a trigger lock) and causes death or great bodily harm.[20]
The possession of automatic firearms (such as machine guns), short-barreled shotguns, short-barreled rifles, or silencers is prohibited. While possession of a large-bore destructive device itself is not prohibited, possession of an artillery projectile, shell or grenade with over 1/4 ounce of explosive is prohibited.[12] There is no prohibition against non-sporting shotguns (such as the Armsel Striker) deemed destructive devices by the ATF.
Air guns that are larger than .18 caliber and that have a muzzle velocity greater than 700 feet per second are also regulated.[21]
Local laws
Illinois does not have state preemption of firearm laws, and some local governments have passed laws that are more restrictive than those of the state. Some municipalities, most notably Chicago, require that all firearms be registered with the local police department.[22] Chicago residents must "immediately" report a firearm that is stolen or lost, and must report the transfer of a firearm at least 48 hours in advance.[23] Chicago also prohibits the sale of firearms within city limits.[24] Chicago has banned the possession of certain semi-automatic firearms that it defines as assault weapons, as well as magazines that can hold more than 12 rounds of ammunition.[25] Separately, Cook County has banned assault weapons and magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds.[26][27] Other municipalities have also enacted various firearm restrictions.[28] Lack of preemption makes it difficult to travel throughout Illinois with a firearm while being sure that no laws are being broken.
Local restrictions on the possession of handguns
Some Illinois municipalities have laws restricting the possession of handguns.
Current laws
In Chicago, gun owners are required to have a Chicago Firearm Permit, which costs $100 and must be renewed every three years.[29] Before getting the permit, the resident must complete a training course that includes at least four hours of classroom training and one hour of range time. Each gun must be registered with the Chicago Police Department at a one-time cost of $15 per gun, and an annual registration report must be filed every year.[30] Gun possession is permitted only inside a dwelling, not in a garage or on the outside grounds of the property. Only one gun at a time may be kept in a usable state.[31][32][33] Chicago's ordinances are being challenged in court, with plaintiffs alleging that they are so restrictive and burdensome as to interfere with citizens' Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.[14][34][35]
Highland Park bars handgun possession unless the resident has obtained a permit from the Highland Park Police. The permit must be renewed every year, and the resident must attend a gun safety and training session, given by the police, every three years.[36]
History
By the late 1980s, several Illinois municipalities had banned the possession of handguns. Chicago required the registration of all firearms but did not allow handguns to be registered, which had the effect of outlawing their possession, unless they were grandfathered in by being registered before April 16, 1982.[37][38] Additionally, several Chicago suburbs had enacted outright prohibitions on handgun possession.
On June 26, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller.[39] Chicago and the other municipalities came under legal pressure to change their laws.[40][41] In the months following the Heller decision, handgun bans were repealed in the suburbs of Wilmette,[42] Morton Grove,[43] Evanston,[44] and Winnetka,[45] but Chicago and Oak Park kept their laws in effect.[44][46]
On June 28, 2010, in the case of McDonald v. Chicago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the handgun bans of Chicago and Oak Park to be unconstitutional.[47]
On July 12, 2010 a new Chicago city ordinance took effect that allows limited handgun possession after passing a firearms training course and obtaining a permit from the police. Chicago's gun registration requirement is still in effect.[31][32]
On July 19, 2010 Oak Park amended its town ordinance to allow handgun possession in one's home, leaving no remaining town in Illinois that completely bans handguns.[48]
All of these state laws I am sure criminals follow to the letter. /sarc
Hey those high crime areas in Chicago have been that way for so long. The mental ward patient got elected just because of his name. But then in Chicago a Democrat could get elected if he living in a district that just contained his home, and the homes of 500 Repupublican voters. Just as long as it also contained a LARGE CEMETARY.
I like to know if any of those violent wards used to have a certain community organizer?
I imagine those "violent pockets" are dominated by Blacks and Hispanics.
How about getting the GANGS off the street?
Because that's racist.
Can't find a gun shop in Chicago? Don't like the waiting period at the gun shops outside the city limits, or in Wisconsin? Geeze, the city of Chicago borders the state of Indiana! Holy cow! Two gun shops right on the state line! Wait for it... No license required! No registration! No background checks! They check your ID to make sure you're 18 and bingo! Semi-automatic carbine, foldable stock! Need more stopping power for those late-night turf wars, how about the semi-auto 12-gauge shotgun?! Or right out of the Terminator movies, you won't find a more badass, faster handling pump shotgun than Browning's BPS!
Nationwide gun registration & control, instant background checks with a mental heath linkage, ban on high capacity mags, restrictions on assault weapons.
Chicago is not as island.
Any gun shop that doesn't fill out the required paperwork and do a background check is in violation of Federal law. If you have first hand knowledge of what you clam please call your local ATF office and file a complaint.
You're a certified moron if you think those gun shops are selling guns without doing background checks. Do you even know what a "carbine" is or is that just a term you read somewhere?
I agree! Stricter gun laws. People easily buy guns across state lines. Stricter gun laws! Go after the big providers.
Go after the users.
I don't think they can legally buy a gun in a state they aren't a resident in. Most thugs and gangsta wannabes obtain their firearms by purchasing them from other thugs and gansta wannabes who stole them in the first place. You will rarely see a legally purchased firearm change hands from a law abiding citizen to a criminal without theft being involved.
I'm waiting for someone to advise us to look at Indiana. It apparently has few or lax gun laws. It must be a murder haven. A regular shootin' gallery.
Well no, that's not the case. It's Chicago, the international laughingstock, that has the strictest gun laws and highest murder rates. It appears the people of Chicago are willing to work very hard at killing each other. The people from Indiana? Not so much.
It not the laws folks. It's not more laws or fewer laws. It's the people. Rahm Emanual has failed to deliver an uplifting, liberating, life-altering message. Did anyone really expect him to? Nope. He picks the easy targets, makes a speech, and goes somewhere for a free lunch.
@pacosperson: not too long ago, Gary, Indiana had a higher murder rate than Chicago. Again, it really isn't much different than the wards in Chicago with the highest percentage of murders.
Getting rid of gangs in this country would solve many problems. You would think in a country where there is such great law enforcement, reserves, FBI and other enforcement that our gang problems would be less. To me, there is no concern in resolving gang problems in this country. People in Black communities have a reason for not snitching. THey want to live and they want their families to be safe. They know they have no protection. When you have no money, you can't move.
My heart breaks for the people who live in those neighborhoods. What can we do to help them?
We can pray for the kids who get away from there and go to college. That number is greater than the ones who kill and commit crimes. Many great kids come from those communities and become leaders. It's sad that many on here like the vet and his followers place all Blacks in the same group. If you took time to visit and talk with a lot of people in those wards at meetings you will meet a lot of wonderful people who don't care about politics or parties. If it is any example of what we have in Washington now, people realize they have to vote for the lesser of the two evils. Washington isn't helping these folks. It's about who pays each politician the most money like the NRA and Norquist. People in Washington don't care about the real life. If we can fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq then we can fight gangs in this country.
For 75 years the people of Chicago allowed the Democrats to support the drug gangs. Obama likes money! Obama like drugs! The Gangs rule Chicago. Chicago can't even close underused schools because Chicago fears kids crossing drug gang boundaries. Let's make this clear! Obama, the top pol from Chicago and Illinois, has let the drug gangs rule the city and the state! It may be time for the "Book of Mormon" to refocus its theme. "Fuc!! Obama!
OH GIVE ME A BREAK!! Chicago has a history of gangs way before Obama was born!
I do not know much about these gangs except what I watch on Gangland, seems like many gangs started as community organizations with good intentions to solve problems and eventually morphed into the actual problem.
Kluib:
What is your freakin problem man? Your boy Barry has had 4 years and you talk about Limbaugh, Coulter etc. Limbaugh and Coulter are entertainers, and who gives a crap what they say? McCain? He is like is all the others in Congress,,worthless and protecting his own territory, but a true American Hero. GET A GRIP,,,your boy has it all under control!
You give me a BREAK!! President Obama has not only saved these folks but he has saved Republicans who realize now what a bunch of mentally disturbed folks are in the republican party.Just look at the ones who have sense that have run from the party. Scarborough and Jindal are right. A party of Stupid idiots! All those years Bush and Cheney made money off wars and deaths of Americans and you fools didn't say a word!! If you are stupid enough to believe that President Obama is just taking care of Democrats and the 47 percent Mitt talked about you are idiot! Many of the middle class that Bush destroyed have the president to thank for keeping them afloat. THis country IS going forward! President Obama nor the Democratic party have anything to do with the problem in Chicago. Heck Most of those folks don't even vote in those gangs.They don't care what party is in now. This is not about just politics. This is about poverty and power in the Hoods with a group of gangs that need to be gotten rid of by the US military is necessary. Heck bring back curfews. get gangs off the streets.
The U.S. military is prohibited by the Constitution from engaging in operations on U.S. soil.
Tell that to the crazies who build those underground bunkers like the man who held the child hostage and to the NRA who feel they have to arm themselves agains the government.
This problem is not rooted in gun laws, political parties or local taxation. It lies in National priorities. On the South and West sides of Chicago where this article documents the most severe problems lie, Police Stations are being closed, Schools are underserved, and Social Services are being curtailed. At the same time we are spending billions to repair the infrastructure we destroyed in Iraq and to empower civilian activism across the globe. We spend this money in far flung foreign lands on contractors who charge ridiculous fees and keep American tax dollars offshore in the name of 'Preserving Freedom' and 'Spreading Democracy'. We fail on both counts. It is time to bring our Service People home from across the globe and turn our efforts inward. If we repair our schools, rebuild our bridges and retrain our police force, we will have a society that embraces productivity. We can no longer be the world's piggy bank. We must invest in our future and stop subsidizing global sloth.
I actually agree. The problem in this country is all of our problem. It's so easy to stereotype. What a hateful disease. I know the problems within those communities. I know the faces of people who only want the same thing most Ameicans want. Good jobs and decent lifestyles for their families. These are people who want the American dream that everyone should have. Instead in these communities they are left to fend for themselves. The schools are underserved and they are getting worse with overcrowding of people who move recently come here and move into these communities. I work in this country to pay taxes to help my fellow citizens no matter what their color. There use to be resource centers for kids who may not find what they wanted in schools of colleges. These centers paid a small stipend to help encourage the kids to come everyday. There are many bright minded youth in these communities and they are not being challenged. I took my daughter out of a public school when I found out there were no books in the school. I was astonished. I worked as hard as I could to make sure my daughter would never attend one of those schools. Thus the reason for my disability. You don't get "free stuff" in this country. We all pay taxes. You can't find a cop in these communities like you can in upscale areas. Gangs are know this and they are left to run rampant. This is a blemish on the whole country. It affects us all. Sooner or later the crime will overflow into those other communities. No one will be safe. People need jobs. The president does not create jobs. Congress needs to get it's act together and stop thinking folks are looking for handouts. Most are NOT!
This country is full of racists ..... NAACP, Ms. Black America contest, Black Coaches Assoc., United Negro College Fund.... Should I continue????????
KLuib: The crime from the west side and the south side will not migrate anywhere for two reasons...1). The police in Chicago will not let it move to the north side. 2). The suburban police will not let it expand beyond the Chicago borders.
You cannot deny that the "no-snitch" policy exists. You cannot deny that the City of Chicago spends more money per student than the majority of all the surrounding suburbs. You cannot deny that the public schools on the north side perform better in school. You cannot deny that the City of Chicago is segregated through personal choice...There is the Polish section, Greek section, China town, Puerto Rican section by Humboldt Park, etc. You made an analysis yourself. Based on your analysis, you made a personal sacrifice in order to realize your plan of providing an education for your children. There are no laws that prevent anyone in America from doing the exact same thing. It takes a burning desire to "act". It takes passive behavior to act like a victim.