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Chicago Police Department
Kenneth Williams (left) and Michael Ward (right) were charged Monday in the shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton
Two suspects have been charged in last month’s shooting death of a 15-year-old Chicago girl who performed at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration, police announced Monday night.
Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth Williams, 20, each face one count of first-degree murder for the death of Hadiya Pendleton, who was shot two weeks ago in a park near her school, just days after returning from Washington, D.C., officials said. The two also face attempted first degree murder and aggravated battery with a firearm for the attack that left two other teens wounded.
Ward was the shooter and confessed to police that Hadiya was not the intended target, police said. The shooting was allegedly meant to be a retaliation for Williams, who was shot last year.
Reached by phone Monday evening, Hadiya’s mother, Cleopatra Cowley, said she was “ecstatic” about the arrests and urged for the young men to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Look at what they've done to me and my family. We put so much work into raising my daughter. We had hopes. My son no longer has a big sister. They deserve to feel something that is remotely comparable,” Cowley told NBC News. “But my daughter is dead and even if they are rotting in jail, they will still be alive.”
Chicago police superintendent Garry McCarthy called Hadiya’s family “rocks in supporting us in this investigation.” During the press conference he said he hopes the high-profile murder will lead to meaningful change in the city’s gun law.
He also stressed that it wasn't tips from the community that led to the arrests, but rather relentless detective work.
“This was one of the most methodical, practical investigations that I can remember,” said McCarthy.
Since her death, Hadiya has become one of the faces of the Obama administration’s efforts to reform the nation’s gun laws. First Lady Michelle Obama attended the teenager’s funeral Saturday, and Cowley has been invited to attended Tuesday’s State of the Union.
“My baby deserves a revolution and I pray that what happened her to her will have an impact,” she said.
Chicago police announce the arrest, and charges, against two men in the shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton. Police also confirm that the shooter mistook the teens for gang members.
Leave a Comment:
Great work. Hopefully this will help the family deal with their loss.
If they are found guilty, I hope they get the max.
They must be pretty far down the pecking order in whatever Gang they're in....Gang-Bosses gave them up to get the heat off.....Wondering if they'll get the $40,000 Reward to refurbish Gang Headquarters ????
Even if these ain't the 2 guys that did it.....Jail is better than Death By Fellow Gang-Banger Brothers....
"Yo, you want yo momma to live or die...ni**a ??? "
she wants to start a revolution ? what needs to happen is the african american community needs to get there children under control ! enough is enough !
this was committed with a handgun in a place where guns are banned... so even an outright ban on assault weapons, magazines, and handguns did nothing to stop it....
why? because gang bangers don't care about the law and Chicago politicians (like Obama) are masters at hitting a hot button issue with solutions that don't work so they can fool the electorate into doing what they want
The gun control issue is simple, too many bad guys with guns. And way too many holes in the law that allow them access to guns when they shouldnt have access. Ammunition too. Theres no reason criminals should be able to buy ammo. But they can, all they want.
And legit gun owners are not been made to be more responsible. They should be accountable for a stolen weapon, if it wasn't locked up.
Hopes for better gun law as a result? And how would that stop a gang member with a illegally possessed firearm from killing another?
Oh yes, that is a stupid statement, for sure. A revolution,eh. I am sure she does not know what she is talking about but, that just is the problem with the black community - their kids are out of control and that is where they need a revolution!!
Oh pictures!! What a suprise, law abiding model citizens who went through the full gun background check.......
wire10221,
Hey they could be conservative GOP backers just like Sen. Allen West (the pride of the GOP).
MoreJustice
You mean as in being locked up in your home and they break in and steal it or in your locked car. Why should anyone be held accountable for what a criminal does in such cases. It's not like the gun is just sitting around for someone to pick up and walk away with it. The problem is not the average person that commits no crimes it is the gangs and criminal element. People are accountable for their own actions, period. So if someone steals your wallet and takes the money and buys something illegal who's to blame. I rest my case.
Beauford, right - because these hoods have soooo much in common with Lt. Colonel Allen West! Hahaha
By the way, he was a Congressman, not a Senator.
One data point you were correct about - he IS the pride of the GOP.
Where are these kids' parents in all this?!!
I wonder....If tomorrow night in the State of The Union Address, if P.0bama will say " If I had 2 sons they would look like Kenneth Williams and Michael Ward. ".....????
I know this sounds crazy but Ken Williams and Michael Ward look more like Dick Cheney's sons to me. LoL!!
In America racism is alive and well, just read most of the first 15 posts and you'll see it.
I don't remember this much trash talked about the white guy who killed all the children in Newtown, oh wait, yes I did, you'll were saying "he's a sick baby."
Chicago with the most restrictive gun laws in the country
Only goes to prove WHEN THEY BAN GUNS ONLY THE CRIMINALS WILL HAVE GUNS
Put them on the fast track to being strpped down on a table with a needle in their arms.
Nothing racist about it, had Lanza not taken his own life he should have had the same fate.
Will you redneck sore loosers please get over it? EVERYTHING is blamed on Obama. He won, again, by popular vote. Please take a tranquillizer and a laxative and get over it.
Leave it alone wire10221, you have demonstrated your intelligence already and you have no cred because of that. I am a very liberal guy with a gun and the finest training the U.S Army was willing to provide.
The killers of this young lady should dance on a string until they expire.
The really funny thing is that the cops in Torrence, California did exactly the same thing to two newspaper ladies. They punched 50 holes in the newspaper delivery truck and the only reason they didn't commit murder is they were lousy shots and they were wearing a badge.
Justice for all
A Yarnhead and a Hoodie....who woulda thunk ???
Almost 500 good (and bad) folks got killed in Chicago last year from gun violence and this little girl gets as much attention as Trevon did in Fla, just because she performed at the inauguration and also because Obama has decided gun control is his priority! (boy he is great at media manipulation!)
When do we address the fact that good people are dying because bad people have guns, and will always have those guns despite the administrations attack on all gun owners...? Even though 98% of them are law abiding citizens who have no intention of using their guns in a gang war! I'll give Barry this, he has NBC and the rest of the liberal media at his beck and call...
my heart goes out to Hadiya and all of the innocents that are victims of crazy folks... just quit putting all gun owners in this box!
Time to find a new homepage until NBCNEWS takes down "My baby deserves a revolution" (and the picture).
Yeah, unnecessary deaths deserve outrage and anger but on the list of revolution generators a city with its own problem isn't where I draw up arms and go to battle.
Time may heal but provoking additional deaths won't quicken the recovery.
Very powerful and sadly true words...
"He also stressed that it wasn't tips from the community that led to the arrests"
*Facepalm*
As much press and attention this case received, there were plenty of people who could have and should have phoned in an anonymous tip. But they didn't. And they won't.
How do we as a civilized society help a community that refuses to help itself? I feel sorry for the innocent victims, but more laws and more police will have very little effect until there is some effort put in by the decent people who live there.
This country was founded....stolen....raped......and murdered, by criminals with guns, so some of you "Oh I'm a law abiding citizen and have the right to bear arms", idiots should think about the 4th amendment which states that the People have a right to bear arms. Those criminals back in the 1400's-1800's didn't need a permit to carry so, why should anyone these days need one??? But as far as those two idiots in the photo, they look retarded and illiterate. Now there should be a law against two retarded illiterate adults procreating and filling the world with more stupidity.
@MoreJustice... "They should be accountable for a stolen weapon, if it wasn't locked up."
So if someone is breaking into my house, I have to go to my safe and unlock it in order to retrieve my gun to defend myself and my family? By then it would be too late. Just as stopping to call 911 first would be too late. Having gun owners lock up all weapons is unrealistic and defeats the purpose of self defense.
Okay a lot have people have gone into racsism and areas like that. This woman lost her child and is welcomed to feel however she feels about it. It is a tragedy. A gun did not kill her daughter though. A criminal did. No gun fires without someone pulling the trigger. Until we as a nation condemn criminals and instill values in our children this problem will persist. Teach your children that they can be anything if the try their hardest and don't get discouraged by failure.
@ Shipwrecked
Stop making it about race. A white boy in CT did more damage in 15 minutes then most do in a week in Chicago... And he did aimed at babies. So don't make this about the black community. These kids in all communities need more discipline. I teach at a school with a half and half mix of black and white, and from my observation the country bunkins that attend that school have way more issues then my black, spanish, and asian student. All they talk about is there knowledge of guns and killing things. Alot of them are emotionally disturbed as well, a bad mix. We will see more incidents like the CT one if the white community doesn't get their children together as well. So don't make it about race, we all have work to do.
Hey, mike-2598123. What you need to do is learn how to capitalize and learn the difference between "there" and "their."
Firstly there is no such race as "Black", African-American, African, Negro, or any other proverb that you caucasians make up to refer to the Hebrew-Israelite people. We ARE Hebrew-Israelite, descendants of our father, Cush who built the nation of the Cu@!$%#es. There is never any mention Biblically of any "black" man and as far as "Black History Month", well, maybe someone who's been brainwashed enough believes in such a thing but if the True Children of Israel will finally awaken, the Bible IS Our history!
If you read the article it says that they had no tips from the public. What does it say about the public? There were two other witnesses, and I would highly doubt that there wasn't any more. A plain simple fact more laws don't do anything against those that don't abide by any law. That is why they are called criminals.
Bryant you sure do show your ignorance. The 2nd amendment is to bear arms 4th is search and seizure. The other topics you have mentioned also show your ignorance as well. Read up. Then you can speak up.
watching 404403 -Hey, mike-2598123. What you need to do is learn how to capitalize and learn the difference between "there" and "their."
with the black on black crime that I wrote about ! your insight to this tragedy is to criticize my GRAMMAR !
do an image search on Google for Children killed by drone strikes.
Now bitch about gun control
LordPyrinc,
I agree, spot on. When seconds count, the police are only minutes away. Why is this? It was explained to me by a retired detective, it's about work loads and priorities. Too many drug dealers with actions underway against them, and law enforcement prioritize that, rather than stop their action in progress to do something else. That leaves 2 choices, neither seem to gain traction. either legalize drugs, or hire more law enforcement, the former is unlikely to happen, and the latter will bust the budget. So, I keep all my firearms loaded, cocked, and at the ready, I replace the lead pellets with 21 dimes in each 3" mag, 12 gauge shell, and hollow point ballistic tips in the rest, and oh yeah, have the finest training the US Army could provide, and we do have the 'castle' law.
@jayinflorida
THANK YOU for pointing this out. How can you have a "revolution" when the entire community didn't even bother to help bring the killers to justice? How can you help people who refuse to help themselves stop the violence?
People need to reassess themselves, their neighbors, the communities they live in, and the ridiculous "no snitching" culture. George Zimmerman, a "white" Hispanic, kills Treyvon Martin and celebrities on Twitter try to incite a lynch mob without due process. Gangsters kill Hadiya, and barely any outcry for support or cooperation in the investigation. The double standard is just so mind-boggling, it gives you a migraine.
Make legal gun owners the bad guy, when not a SINGLE person stepped forward to help the investigation with information.
Ummm...Bryant133.... I'll play devil's advocate here. 1400-1800s? Only Indians were here back in the 1400s (if then) and certainly no knowledge of firearms had been discovered, at that point. And as far as the "two idiots in the photo look retarded and illiterate'? That's judging a book by it's cover. Both of them look beaten down and "give a sh**", but how could you say they're either retarded OR illiterate, just by their photos? Unfortunately, there have been a great many extremely intelligent people who have committed very heinous crimes. Sad to say.
Now, personally, I think these kids (the victims...not the shooters) had great futures and I'm heart-hurt to see that such a tragedy happened. I pray for their families and friends to stay strong and keep faith. I hope this horrible thing will (somehow...in some way) affect a positive effect (pessimism says 'probably not'). But I hope it does! Junior will still remember this, as he grows up without his sister, and I imagine he'll strive to make her proud. But I hope that everything he does is as much for himself, as it is to make her proud. That would be his greatest Testimony to her memory. Not eberything has to be about "Headlines"...sometimes it really IS something that matters.
OMG!!! SGU...all I can say is "Wow". You are actually certified to TEACH children? Seriously? Because I'm not going to point it all out, but you had no less than four really bad errors in a very short comment. You talk about your students speaking of guns and killing things, and that there is "work to do". And you cited a lack of discipline. From who, exactly? The parents? The teachers? The peers? The community? "Who" is lacking in disciplining the children, and trying to lead them? Who? Are you? Or do you just feel frustrated and ineffective, so you Post? You said there is work to do... So get moving and make it happen! You want something to change, so that kids do NOT grow up talking about guns and killing things...make it happen...you're a teacher (you say). Make it happen!
She wants a "revolution" ?
Then the Chicago residents should take to the streets and wipe out the "gang bangers". The crime rate would drop dramatically if Chicago residents had a set.
Or better yet, take her "revolutionaries" to the Congressional Halls and demand the Progressives do other things than FUND social justice and equality programs.
Hmmmmmmm, so the 506 murders last year in Cheeeeeecago, and the 40 some already this year, wasn't enough to lead to "meaningful change in the city's cun law"?
This is the convoluted thinking the Liberal/Progressives have created. Other than sensationalizing this death because she participated in some parade at the inauguration, it doesn't minimize the hundreds of other murders and thousands of crimes committed by these gang bangers.
Liberals/Progressives deal with problems emotionally rather than with sound policy. Yes, they'll concoct some more parochial rules, regulations or laws and they will only affect the law abiding citizens. Chicago already boasts the toughest gun controls in the country and yet crime, violence and murder is rampant.
Chicago is a sanctuary city. All of the sanctuary cities have higher crime and murder rates.
This is the conundrum the criminal Liberals/Progressives create. They allow criminals to break the law and infest their cities and then they create more laws and expect the criminals that they allow to criminally be there to obey the laws.
Only in the delusional mind of a Liberal can this make any sense.
These 2 gang bangers need to either be executed or put away for life. If they are put in for life then need to be put into a hard work program. Send them to farms to work picking crops so we don't have to rely on illegal aliens to trespass on our sovereign soil.
Of course the same Liberals will protest any work prisons or chain-gang ideas as being "cruel and inhumane punishment".
The only person that should have the ability to parole or release a murderer is the murder victim. Regardless of how much time these two miscreants do in jail Hadiya will still be dead.
If these two are executed I doubt it will be a great loss, but it will avoid having to deal with them again in the future.
But what about black on black shooting, that is life in every hood in the midwest, Chicago, cleveland, pittsburg or anywhere else. sad but true. Gun control worked real good huh? I know it is all GWB fault.
Wire you are moron, many ex soldiers are not extermists. they are more middle of the road. save us all from the activcists on both sides, they are just flip sides of eacgh other.
Wire it is time for you to put on your jammies and go to bed. I did not a child was allowed to stay up so late, but then it kind goes back to ones upbring or lack of it.
Hey Fawna:
He won again with fraud and with the money from the rotchilds, get off his ass already
Perhaps the police superintendent meant that a better gun law would be is that if a criminal is caught with a gun or one is used in the crime committed then there would be no chance of any good time granted on the sentence enhancer of 25 years, which should be automatic. Also I would suggest that if a killing is done with premeditation then the death penalty should be an option. Premeditation would include the use of a firearm.
Oh, and wire10221, if you want to sound like you have some intelligence you ought to learn to keep your comments to yourself. If you don't say anything you might be perceived as normal but when you speak you let the cat right out of the bag for everyone to see.
So two individuals committed a crime and were caught and now will face the consequences. So the system worked? What does "gun control" have to do with this? When you commit a crime and are caught you suffer the consequences.
Of course you KNOW what you will hear next "they are such GOOD boys!! They just got caught up with the wrong crowd. They wouldn't do something like this!!". Yes, choir boys I am sure..........
Why isn't there a sign-in page at the top of an article? Why must people have to scroll down a third of a page to find a "reply" before we can vote or respond to an article? I will always vote up or down on a comment, but I hate to retrace post that were posted before the "reply" button.
To those asking for clarification; Your guns should be locked up, when you aren't there to watch over them.
Obviously you can have them out all you want while at home with them. But if you have left your guns unattended, they should have to be locked up with a trigger lock at the very least. Trigger locks are fairly cheap. And if they get stolen, and something happens with your stolen gun, you should be held responsible for not having it locked up. If they weren't. You should get a fine or whatever. If they are found unlocked by police, and not under the owners control, confiscation.
Gun owners need to do more to curb weapon thefts, way too many are stolen.
At least they got the lousy creeps or the right ones i hope. Looks like the one has a mop on his head. That ward punk, his family could have kept him home just by wetting his lips and sticking him to the wall.
So if someone breaks into your home and steals your wallet or anything of value and sales it to buy a stolen firearm that they then go out and commit a crime with, should you get punished for the fact that you left something of value out that they were able to sell to buy a firearm with?????
What you are proposing is a little ridiculous because no one should be punished for the actions of a criminal but the criminal and that is just the way it is supposed to be...
It is kind of like the punishing of the law abiding gun owners for the actions of the criminals using firearms to commit crimes.... It is not the way our laws are meant to be. you punish the criminals not the victims!!!
Only when America gets serious about gun control will these death rates go down. Anyone saying gun control wont work, is misinformed, or lying.
Criminals should not be able to buy ammo. Right now they can, at any store that sells it. A firearms license system would end that. No license, no ammo. Or any other gun related thing. This would allow for periodic check-ups on gun owners.
A gun registry. Tracking guns is the ONLY way to put a stop to black-market sales. Every gun sold from the day the law goes into effect, should be registered, and a name put to every gun and box of ammunition. If those items are found in the hands of bad-guys, then the registered owner has questions to answer.
Gun owners should not be able to buy ammo for any gun not registered to them. This would encourage people to register guns already owned. Unregistered guns should be confiscated if found by police. There should be regular amnesties to allow people to come forward and register, if they didn't right away.
Close all the loop holes in the law. 100% background checks for all sales. Gun owners having a license would help private sellers check their buyers. And they could take the buyers license number for registration purposes. The seller should be responsible for informing the authorities they have sold a gun, and supply a record with the license number of the buyer on it. The buyer should have X number of days to register their new gun.
These simple steps would put a huge dent in the illegal firearms trafficing business. Needing a license to buy ammo, would disarm most criminals almost immediately. An illegal gun without ammo, cant kill anyone. By tracking guns and ammo, the black-market would also dry up. Badguys would be way less dangerous.
Legal law abiding gun owners are not the problem. Its bad guys and mentally unfit people with guns that are the problem. Bad-guys don't have 2nd amendment rights.
Garrie, you would be punished for not locking up your guns. The penalty could be stiffer, if your poor actions allowed your guns to be stolen and they ended up being used to do a bunch of killing.
You are not getting punished for the killing, but for allowing your guns to be so easily stolen. That's why they have a law against leaving your car keys in the ignition. If your car is stolen, and they find out the keys were in the ignition, you are in trouble. And your insurance will say tough luck.
Leaving a lethal weapon lying around for a kid to get ahold of, or a thief to steal, should be an offense.
People love to throw that word, revolution, around. I hate to tell people this, but we are in a revolution. Gangs are fighting open war, and the collateral damage is pretty light. The last revolution we had cost us more the 600,000 Americans. If people want to see gun violence at the level of revolution, there are plenty of places in the world to go look at the mangle corpses.
Their child deserves a cultural enlightenment.
Too bad there isn't one coming any time soon.
Mike,
From you, this forum is waiting to read ONE intelligent post.
...and the NRA is still clamoring for the "right" to have access to magazine clips with 20 rounds?
The organization's positions are indefensible.
25Walker...(#1.58).."Mike,From you, this forum is waiting to read ONE intelligent post."
Sorry, but it takes more than a 3rd.Grade education to understand what I write....
Isn't that nice? I bet it makes all the other parents of murdered children happy to know that this little girl, because she sang at the inauguration, was deemed worthy of a real effort.
@MYkiddosMom...I should've said "very late 1400's(1492)-1800's.
I hate to throw more tautology into the discusssion. But, "if guns aren't manufacured then they won't make it into the hands of outlaws." How's that? all you brilliant Pro-gun tautologists?
cory1980 "Hopes for better gun law as a result? And how would that stop a gang member with a illegally possessed firearm from killing another?"
Correct. And why does the media ignore the connection between gun violence and 'Gangsta Rap' music that glorifies violence and other anti-social behavior?
Ronald Hussein Reagan...(#1.63)...". But, "if guns aren't manufacured then they won't make it into the hands of outlaws." How's that? all you brilliant Pro-gun tautologists?"
________________________________________
""Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."---- Thomas Jefferson
_______________________
""Our main
agenda is to have all guns banned. We must use whatever means possible.
It doesn’t matter if you have to distort the facts or even lie. Our task
of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would
resist us have been totally disarmed."
Sara Brady
Chairman,
Handgun Control Inc, to Senator Howard Metzenbaum
The National
Educator, January 1994, Page 3.
________________________
""I ask, Sir, what is the
militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and
most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Co-author
of the Second Amendment "
http://marionvalentine66.wordpress.com/2010/06/02/those-who-hammer-their-guns-into-plowshares-will-plow-for-those-who-do-not/
Is that a 'hoodie' that the shooter is wearing?
some of ya'll got a little racist ...but i figured it would be worse...sorry for the family of the girl...having to deal with moochell in their time of grief...in chicago gun control is not ever gon'a work well for the law abiding...them two ignorant young men will spend their days...turning into old men in jail... wasted their life try'n to be gangster...you guy's need to figure it out...life in a cell ain't no time thats good time...peace be with ya'll...
Mike in DelRaty - digging up some out of context quotes is about par for the course for the Gun crowd. ALll tautology - alll meaninglesss. Ideologicallly pure, however.
Ronald Hussein Reagan
"Mike in DelRaty"
Did ya think that one up all by yourself ??....Are you proud that you think you're so clever ??......Grow Up.....
R.H. Reagan: What an idiotic statement! That's like saying if cars aren't manufactured, then they won't fall into the hands of drunk drivers! lol
I have never seen such racist people in my life as I have read on this comment thread. We are all 99.9% the same genetically. What a bunch of haters...grow up.
Arthur66
Where are these kids' parents in all this?!!...Seriously? You do realize they do not know who their daddy is nor do they care...street thug mentality rules there...check out the 'low rider'" I was in prison ain't I cool" dress code...
Diverdown1
I have never seen such racist people in my life as I have read on this comment thread. We are all 99.9% the same genetically. What a bunch of haters...grow up.
Profiling works!! hurrah for the .01 % .....wake up!!
Mike,
What you "write" is barely comprehensible. Intelligently, your "posts" do not focus on the article's topic, they lack substance, they dodge the facts, they are smothered in name-calling and they appeal only to the uninformed "Fox News" crowd. A "3rd" grade child would keenly discern the wasteful nature of your rants. Appropriately, a child would put your trash comments - in the trash bin..."and you can quote me."
Since her death, Hadiya has become one of the faces of the Obama administration’s efforts to reform the nation’s gun laws.
BHO makes the comment in MN about Hadiya Pendleton's murder as taking place "a mile from my house", why was he in Minneapolis and not Chicago??
It's his home district where he got his creds as a community organizer, it's still one of the national leaders for teen pregnancies, school dropouts, and in the articles about the 'hood single parent households with no fathers in the family.
ORGANIZE THAT!!!!
Two more gangsters going to jail. I'm glad he is 18, he will serve at least 30 years minimum. I hope Skeeter says something on her behalf, and not exploit her death again by bringing up gun control. Gangstas scoff at gun control.
30 years
lol
he will be out in around 8 years on "good behavior"
@Sax1031
Unfortunately you're probably right. Chicago has a very liberal "justice" system that is far more concerned with disarming law abiding citizens than keeping violent criminals off the streets.
And thus, the libbies keep wondering why Chicago is the murder capital of the Country.
You know what they say about there is no one so blind as someone who REFUSES to see.........
Skeeter? Who are you talking about Urban Roman? If your referring to President Obama, it was probably pressure from the WH that lit a fire under the asses of the Chicago Police Detectives on this case. Also, using this tragic event to promote your position in the gun control debate is not very tactful, but something needs to be done. If a tighter control on guns are NOT taken, then there's the alternative; unmanned drones patrolling the skies over our major cities, watching every move we make, not only recording crimes, but the everyday doings of law abiding citizens also.
Why don't you enlighten the world hotticket....what doesn't everyone see? Please regale us with your wisdom....for what it's worth...which is nothing on the internet :)
Last week the Chicago police reported that in excess of 70% of the illegal guns used in homicides were traced back to southern states with lax purchase laws and little to no background checks
Chicago with the most restrictive gun laws in the country
Only goes to prove WHEN THEY BAN GUNS ONLY THE CRIMINALS WILL HAVE GUNS
Tackandcover - do you have link to the source you are quoting for that 70%? Here's one that shows half are from Illinois followed by the surrounding states. The only southern state mentioned was Mississippi - an outlier with 9.6%.
And yes, Illinois in general has strict laws including obtaining a FOID card just to be in possession of a firearm.
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/July-2012/Where-Do-Chicagos-Guns-Come-From/
I once read that a "Prison Year" is 9 months, and that with Good Behavior you can get out in 1/3 time. Do the math, and it sucks. That means they could (possibly) get out on Parole if they got a 30 year sentence. That is a Very Short Time.
All I can figure is that we're overcrowding, and taxpayers are pissed. It certainly has nothing to do with "reformed" criminals. They don't care and just "wait"...they know they're getting out if they just "shadow' their time.
Hotticket, might want to check your facts. Chicago isn't number one, higher than the national average yes number one nope.
What're they going to do? Make guns super-dooper illegal?
WisconsinDad-2479817 That is the problem, you just don't see what is right in front of you.
That leaves 499 murders unsolved from......
Correct, @Mike.
Her baby deserves justice in a court of law, like all the other victims of crime.
Her baby was not killed by a right wing anybody .
"Her baby"...you kept saying that. What "her baby"? Maybe I haven't read far enough. Are you still speaking about Hadiya? Make a statement, and don't be vague. Please.
"Ant-D.O.G.
Skeeter? Who are you talking about Urban Roman? If your referring to President Obama, it was probably pressure from the WH that lit a fire under the asses of the Chicago Police Detectives on this case. Also, using this tragic event to promote your position in the gun control debate is not very tactful, but something needs to be done. If a tighter control on guns are NOT taken, then there's the alternative; unmanned drones patrolling the skies over our major cities, watching every move we make, not only recording crimes, but the everyday doings of law abiding citizens also."
TRY IT..go ahead, you and all the traitors in here and everywhere will be hunted down one by one by those whom believe in liberty and freedom..just try it; we all know the gov is trying hard and will fall hard as well on their intent; sooner or later; it not matter who the F*** is funding the show or how much power libtards think they have; the very mind of liberty will never be brought down or even bended an inch; why not all of you libtards take all the Chicago scum and the rest of retards not only from USA but form the rest of the world, including the middle east whom you are all sympathizers and go and fund a new colony in mars all for yourselves? Do that so you can live in your f***up notion of peace, do it not and you will always live in fear, as you are all living right now!
ANT DOG Oh really such wisdom you have there. Here you try and tell someone not not to use a tragic event to promote gun control debate. Are you freaking kidding me??? Get a clue and pull your head out of your arse. I'm amazed and commend you as it is such a feat to simultaneously have your foot in your mouth and your head in your arse at the same time.
Using a tragic event to push gun control is exactly what Obama and the Libs have been and are doing. OMG! Why would we need drones???? Just imagine if the cops got off their arses and really investigated the crimes instead of sitting around chatting with each other or trying to be the revenue creaters they think they are. That is your alternative...here is another...How about lock up violent criminals/felons longer then a couple years, like releasing them after their 3 year stint on a 9/10 sentence for manslaughter/murder....and another...cops again do their jobs instead of collaborating with the criminals and taking payoffs and stop beating down the kid/person because they did not produce/refused an ID due to their rights as they were not detained
THAT IS JUST A FEW. ALSO just a few years back there were over 10,000 files and reports of police brutality, abuse, misuse of power, theft and such in ONE YEAR. In that year there were only 10 reprimands for those abuses. Clean up the force and have someone else besides the Police looking into the complaints against themselves Maybe Dorner should swing by Chicago and do some house cleaning
@Mykiddo----yesterday, the headline was "My baby deserves a revolution...."
Only revolution needed here is against criminal activity/gang activity in Chicago.
Thankfully these two scum were caught.
But I still don't understand why this particular murder is getting SO much media attention. Just because she was middle class and attended the inauguration, she's more important than the hundreds of other youth murders in Chicago every year?
I am pretty sure that is the reason ..
I think the reason why this received so much media attention is because 1. yes the girl just came from the inauguration, and 2. the fact that she was smart, and an honor roll student. People love them kind of stories which tend to stick out. I don't think the media/nor anyone else believes she was more important than any other lives that were taken, but sometimes some stories just get more attention than others in general! Definitely glad they caught those two thugs!
Nobody really cares much about gangs killing each other.
Myself included.
peteMT,
Gangs killing each other is like Muslims killing each other, it is not necessarily a bad thing. Both are a plague.
Stupid people like you should attempt to read before you make an ass of yourself. A number of parents from Newtown will attend the SOTU. Some of you white folks are a @!$%#ing trip!!!!! You're racist to your core, but not man enough to admit it.
Because she was an innocent bystander who had a bright future and yes, just attended the inauguration. Daily shootings in Chicago involve gang bangers and drug dealers - thankfully they usually only shoot each other.
I don't think anyone is saying her life or death is more important but the fact that this kid was playing in a park a mile from the first family's Chicago home, was an honor student and had just returned from the inauguration does make her story more compelling in the news. Some stories do get more attention. People complained when the Newton children received so much attention when children die everyday. Sadly, so many children die in this country that we are in danger of becoming desensitized.
EVERY child and/or victim...whether 2 or 92...deserves attentiom. Getting killed for zero reason at all is a Tragedy. Try to develop some empathy.
PeteMT I pretty sure an honor roll student was not in a "gang". Do I know this as a fact no. Just happen to know that generally they do not involve themselves in that sort of behavior.
The restless detectives can continue to solve the hundreds of other murders while our elected officials and President go on about sweeping all of the gun violence unde the rug while claiming that the new laws on magazine size and background checks was a huge accomplishment. The USA is completely out of control now by the fact that so many irresponsible and/or mentally ill citizens have guns and many are carrying thoe guns. The law abiding are out numbered.
I would like to see armed police in the schools, shopping malls, arenas, theatres...complete with metal dectors. Further, i would like to see road blocks for sidewalk and car searches to assure guns are not moving around the various neighborhoods.
Law eenforcement must work to regain control and then enforce the laws we already have .
And I would love to see you pay for all of this singlehandedly!
I would be happy with Chicago implementing stop and frisk in the areas where the trouble is occurring. It paid dividends in NYC, unfortunately it was just ruled a violation of people's rights (a lawsuit brought by those same people who wanted safer neighborhoods).
I don't want to see a police state, but I do think that when areas are out of control and murders are rampant - policies which are less than ideal should be implemented to stabilize the situation. It doesn't need to be long term - once the bad guys are removed we simply shift the resources away to other needed areas.
In other words, you would like to see the Constitution revoked. Two words: Probable Cause.
To Joe:
Huh? I would like to see people like you removed from this country
Egads you just described Germany 1935, China, North Korea, need I go on? Let's burn a few books while were at it!
Hot ticket. I believ e the RIght WIng is the leader in "willful ignorance" THey refuse any input fronm the real world and chooose to live in the imaginary world of Preisdent Obama being a Muslim from Kenya who hates AMerica. SOund familiar? If they stopped manufacuring automatic weapons, then outlaws would not be able to have automatic weapons. How's that for a tautological response to the most nonsensical of alll the gun nuts mantras?
I watched the news conference on those two being arrested. Though some great ideas about giving those who own guns illegally and giving them some jail time to keep them off the streets the real problem is Gangs themselves. I never understood why you do not arrest them when knowingly they will commit crimes over and over. Unless you keep criminals and gang members off the streets crime will continue over and over with people robbed and murdered. In essence they are a Army of thieves and criminals. When you live in a society that criminals have more rights then you then it becomes a big problem. The problem is you allow them to exist. Everyone knows who they are but nothing is ever done about it. It is up to everyone to make the World a better place to live in. Good job of catching these murderers. Now make laws to make law abiding citizens safer in the community.
Two killers down and hundreds to go. It's simple math. A gun plus a person equals homicide (g + p = h). History tells me that this girl's death will soon be forgotten and things will be as they are. Ask the middle schoolers in Chicago a year from now if they know who Hadiya Pendleton was? Their answers may surprise you but they won't surprise me. The articles didn't show the photos of the alleged killers, but I will not be surprised to see that it was another case of B on B crime. Who or what can you blame?
Don't quite understand your equation - at my house there is a different equation - "34g + 4p = 4p with the ability to protect their property and person" - or another scenario - "34g + 4p + intruders = intruders who wish they had intruded on another house" - or yet another scenario - "34g hidden away +4p - intruders = 34g hidden away + 4p who will continue to be law-abiding citizens"
This is good that the guilty have been caught and hopefully will be punished. A tragedy for the family and hopefully this will give them at least some comfort. Sad that this same effort to catch the criminals cannot be afforded the average citizen murdered. If this young lady had not performed at the inauguration this would have been just another number on the long list of innocent people killed in the streets. The effort to catch the shooters was more for Obama than anything else. The fact she performed doesn't make one bit of difference but it is always mentioned first.
Yeah, and your daughter suffered a bit of a loss herself, didn't she?
To quote from the Peter, Paul and Mary song: "When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn."
Another useless shooting, and another person shot as an innocent bystander. When oh when are we going to learn about guns, they do nothing but kill people.
People kill people , the gun is just a tool..
No cclyda, guns save people and that is their main purpose. Just ask armed guards, police, and the Secret Service. They will tell you the main purpose of a gun is to save and protect lives. And from that you can deduce that there needs to be allowances for citzens to legally carry.
Mine must be broke then. They have just killed animals that my cat tore up.
Chicago with the most restrictive gun laws in the country
Only goes to prove WHEN THEY BAN GUNS ONLY THE CRIMINALS WILL HAVE GUNS
"Guns do nothing but kill people" - apparently that is the latest meme being pushed by certain news outlets. Guns are only as good or bad as the person who possesses one.
We do not need to learn anything about guns. What we need to do is prevent certain members of society from reproducing. This country needs to euthanize half the population. I highly doubt both of these murderers came from a family of college educated parents. Probably a couple thugs themselves with credit scores sub-500, on unemployment or welfare, drive a 1998-2002 Maxima/Altima/LeSabre/Malibu/Impala/Sebring/ by a "buy here/pay here" lot, no college education (unless they enrolled just to live off loans), and multiple children from multiple fathers. Let's face it, thug criminals with an 8th grade education are not capable of "learning" about guns. The only math they are capable of understanding is which size rims come in, 20", 22" or 24". The only language they learn is hood-slang and completely incapable of writing a resume.
When are people going to be just Americans and stop being hyphenated-Americans? We were all born in the same country during the same time period to people who were also born in the country. How does this make us any different?
cclyda:
the other night, one of my gun was not feeling well I guess and managed to bust open the safe I put it in, loaded itself a whole mag after it actually open the other safe to get the rounds, all this while i was perplexed looking at it but the gun ignored me, even when ot knows I am the owner and it is registered to me; well i yelled at it; "stop, you are going to get yourself discharged and will get me in trouble!" to which the gun laughled at me and kept toting around the house trying to get out, probably with not good intentions! imagine it was already loaded and I dared not to try nothing harsh as it might shoot at me! after like some crazy minutes on this ordeal, I decided to draw my side gun on it, when this 'unruly" gun saw its equal pointing at it, automatically dropped her mag on the floor, ejected its round from the chamber and set itself on the ground with a very strange look in its barrel mouth that seemed to say "I am sorry, from time to time i like to pick myself up and prove to people like cclyda whom you will be reading a very stupid comment in a few days that we, guns are indeed capable to harm without the owner's help! i will be good from now on, please do not destroy me or get rid of me!....and that was that then I am in this forum and read your comment; I wondering but i know you would agree with me; GUNS tends to be really bad from time to time eh?
Another useless shooting of an innocent bystander, when will we ever learn how dangerous guns are? May the family be at peace and these animals get the death penalty
cclyda,The guns aren't dangerous.The parents who raise thugs are dangerous.Her mother wants a revolution. The best way to bring that about is for people to start getting an education,become gainfully employed before having children preferably after getting married.Without strong parental guidance,morals,self respect and respect for others lives instilled in their children,the random murder of this beautiful young woman will be repeated.Every state needs to enact the death penalty and let it be the sentence of those in gangs who commit murder and anybody else who takes a life.
When will you ever learn about statistics and facts and demographics?
Just a cleaning lady, you speak the truth, but I fear that it is too late!!! Indeed, the murder of this girl has been highly publicized, but it will soon die down and it will be business as usual. Indeed, the lack of education in the hood is staggering, thus unemployment is high. However, the tide will never ever turn as long as those in the hood think they are getting over, beating the system or whatever illogical, self-defeating ideals they embrace to encourage them to pass their irresponsible behavior down to the younger generation. I would love to meet the mothers of these thugs and hear what they have to say. Or more accurately, I would love to hear who they blame for their good for nothing punk *ss sons!!! It is so unfortunate that we are in the 21st century and there is a significant portion of the population who still thinks it is acceptable to behave in a savage way. What is even more alarming is the fact that many politicians in spite of their outcrys, encourage and promote such behavior. It is truly a disgrace!! Not until politicians no longer need the poor and ignorant to keep them in office and these people are held accountable for their actions will there be a chance of any concrete and lasting changes.
just a cleaning lady.
Even though most of what you state is true the Death Penalty in Illinois was abolished. Also some states such as California have the Death Penalty it is rarely carried out (over 600 on Death Row for years on end). The person that was caught and confessed to these senseless murders was let out on parole (only) for having a illegal weapon. First thing he does is gets another one (illegally again) and kills someone (stated they were not the intended victims, shot wrong people). That in itself is totally inane. Yes, it is People and not guns that are the problem. Some have absolutely no idea of the difference between right and wrong or maybe they just don't care. Sad.
@ cclyda
Guns are not dangerous....people are
Forgot to say that ALCOHOL AND DRIVING kill probably as many people and i havent heard anything about banning ALCOHOL
alcohool and driving recklessy kills way more than anything; nothing will get banned
So, if it's stupid to even try to keep guns out of the hands of sociopaths, what is the solution? Are normal citizens supposed to buy armored trucks, stay inside houses with bullet-proof glass and wear full body armor when they dart from their house to their trucks?
I don't hear any reasonable suggestions from the NRA members. Guess they're all out shooting a cow for dinner.
patter123.
First there are a lot of suggestions on here not only by myself but hundreds of others. Very many of them probably own a gun or two. Since millions do what exactly is your point in shooting a cow for dinner when millions are slaughtered every year for food consumption? Are you biased or bigoted towards others that use their rights and never commit a crime? You can try and keep guns away from sociopaths, criminals, gang members or people that just go off the deep end any time in their lives for a thousand different reasons. People are the problem, period! I'd like to see a law like in New York. You get caught with an illegal gun or with a gun where it is prohibited unless you have a carry license you get 2 years min. Maybe we can keep the gang members off the streets because they care about NO laws that you or I would make. People are all responsible for their own actions, period!
I still don't understand who the intended victim was? And I am glad that they have these idiots of the street. It is a senseless loss.
It was Williams that was shot by a rival gang member last July. These two were giving payback and targeted this group of kids thinking they were the rival gang. Ward surrendered and confessed to the shooting and Williams tried to run, but was caught.
They should get death. Not life. Life is not what they gave their victim.
Illinois abolished the death penalty in 2011.
I'd be one ticked off taxpayer in that state.
Keeping wastes of carbon alive for decades on endless taxpayer funded appeals?
Enjoy your bankruptcy.
Do your research. It costs millions of dollars for the state to fight each death sentence appeal. Life in prison actually costs less. And, in my opinion, life in prison is a worse sentence than death. Their lives will be far more miserable in prison than in the ground.
Craig - yes, I have done extensive research for over a decade.
Don't be so quick to assume otherwise. It doesn't help your opinion or position.
It costs more because the system is broken. In clear cases of guilt, the criminal should be, and could be, executed within one month.
We have a system of attorneys that profit. A private prison system that profits.
And legions of deluded liberals and pansies that think the life of such scum is worth sustaining at all costs.
It weakens us. All of us.
You want them miserable? Fine. Then YOU PAY FOR IT.
I highly doubt you'll pull out your checkbook.
Where was the outrage from Obama last year when this little girl was gunned down? It didn't follow on the heels of a mass shooting when Obama is looking to put restrictions on legitimate gun owners. So sad what is and has been happening in Chicago. I mourn for Hadiya, but don't forget Aliyah.
Don't you mean Allah Craig?
Chicago with the most restrictive gun laws in the country
Only goes to prove WHEN THEY BAN GUNS ONLY THE CRIMINALS WILL HAVE GUNS
One of the suspects was already on PROBATION for a weapon violation at the time of the murder.
I wish the President and OUR Ambassador had swiitched places on 9/11!
What other President was asleep on another 9/11 when 3000+ people died?
The same president that inherited Al-Quaida from Clinton...
Hey....he was wide awake.....and got all the planes out of the air...do your homework Epstein
Actually the head of the FAA made the call and got the planes out of the air.
Ollie North justified an alarm system installed in his home during the Iran Contra hearings by saying there was a man called Osama bin Laden who wanted him dead. That was before Clintons time.The Reagan era created the holy warriors to fight the soviets in Afghanistan.
I wonder if they were also performers at the event?
No just pimps like your father, and whores like your mother.
Brenda:
Wow !! you are so tough! I like that..you forgot to mention they were also POS sub human being like you?
It appears Chicago has no gun laws and wants the Feds to step in and pass gun laws.
This is a prime example of gun control. Person found with illegal weapon and sent on his merry way to probation only to attain another gun just because he could. Criminals and gang members ALL have guns and can get them in a heart beat. It's PEOPLE not guns that are the problem. In Chicago alone there are thousands of gang members able to operate under the sick laws we already have. Gang members could care less about getting arrested because they know they will be out in the streets and back in the gang only to commit more crimes against us. The only way to solve the problem is to keep gang members and criminals off the streets. That being said there are also those that go off the deep end for a thousand different reasons and kill someone. You have no idea who they could possibly be because it could be anybody. We see it every day. 14 year old or 84 year old kills someone because they are mad, unhappy, full of hatred, bigotry or just because they can. People are exactly who they are in life. How about living your life and NOT trod on others. How simple is that?
If these 2 are the guilty ones, then they should FRY for their crime. Death penalty for murderers. No exceptions. Make them think twice before they commit the crime.
As for the mother, perhaps you should spend a bit more time thinking about your daughter and not "how much work" you personally put into raising her.
And instead of going to the SOTU speech to be USED by a wannabe Emperor, you should stay home and be disgusted by levels to which this Administration will stoop to use your family tragedy for political purposes.
Ward confessed that he did the shooting and Illinois abolished the death penalty because a mistake was made and they executed an innocent man.
I agree with this mom.... It's high time we took a BITE out of the gang culture... we should start with gangster rap and easily identifiable gang related clothing that each gang picks because of its colors.
Will it ever happen? No... (*sarc on*) because it's guns that are the real problem..... right.... right...... (*sarc off*)
So, Chicago's gun laws aren't strong enough? How about enforcing laws currently on the book - or deleting them?
Yes. Let the people have firearms as they are guaranteed under the US Constitution so they can defend themselves against the scumbags who have no respect for life or private property.
Better yet, if Obama and EManual won't enforce the laws then form a citizen's "militia", march them down to the hood and take these criminals OUT once and for all!
If you are from Texas, you are a douche bag so, stfu. I would LOVE to piss on the Alamo.
Brenda,
That is exactly what is wrong with people. You are bigoted beyond belief for that statement. You judge people on where they live??? Totally inane statement, period!
Chicago with the most restrictive gun laws in the country
Only goes to prove WHEN THEY BAN GUNS ONLY THE CRIMINALS WILL HAVE GUNS
Chicago Police Supt. to make a statement like that demonstrates he has no Intelligent or Logical Common Sense.
Brenda is a liberal POS and an idiot. period; lol
Brenda-1255880, you are suspended for a month for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
Last chance.
600 people killed in Chicago last year, 30% BLACK unemployment.....and Obama is already lookin' at Las vegas again...or Hawaii
I couldn’t be happier that those responsible for this girls murder are behind bars. I can’t imagine the pain her family is feeling over her loss and I know there are many more families that are struggling with the same kind of loss.
I hope if convicted these two are never free men again that would be the right step to curb violence.
Out of respect for this girl and her family and the many others that have lost loved ones I won’t go on my tirade tonight about my opposition to gun control but will say a prayer for all of those affected instead. There will be time to debate gun control later.
You're KIDDING right ?
I watched ESPN's 30/30 last night; the cat that gunned down basketball superstar Ben Wilson in Chicago not only is out....that muhfugger WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN 2009 AND GOT PRAISED BY OBAMA as a "reclamation project"
Y'all need to pay attention, this is nothin' but a political opportunity fo' yo' daddy Obama