So far this school year, 36 children and teens have been murdered -- more than one a week -- and Pfleger is among a chorus of weary Chicagoans who say the slayings aren't getting the attention they deserve.
One of the most disturbing slayings came last week when the family of Alex Arellano found the 15-year-old's body. He had been beaten, burned and shot in the head.
"It's sad because they didn't have to torture him that way. He never did nothing wrong, never. He was a good kid. It just gets to me. It's crazy," Alex's friend Ashley Recendez said. Watch friends, family describe Alex»
Indeed, police say the teen had no criminal record, no gang affiliation. His family says he was well-behaved and shy, almost fearful of strangers. They had recently taken him out of school to protect him after gang members threatened him.
Questions arise because the rate of children being killed in Chicago is worse than in other American cities. Los Angeles, California, notorious for its gang problems, is larger than Chicago. It has reported only 23 child slayings this school year. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is about half the size of Chicago, but it has witnessed only a ninth of the child slayings: four this school year.
What could account for those differences? Are the gun control laws, which are extremely strict in Illinois, different enough in the other states to account for this? Often the pro-gun crowd uses Chicago as an example of the failure of gun control laws, but does that mean the laws are working in other cities?
My idea is that it's totally useless to have strict gun control laws in one place and lax ones in another, just like it's totally useless to require background checks on sales by licensed gun dealers but not in private transactions. What's your opinion?
Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said scuffles among youth have become more violent and a conflict that 20 years ago would have warranted a pushing or wrestling match now sometimes results in gunfire.
"There's simply too many gangs, too many guns and too many drugs on the streets," he said. "We've got a problem with some of our young people are resorting to use of weapons and violence to solve any type of conflicts they may have."
What do you think about the Police Superintendent's comment? He seems to be blaming the guns, at least in part, for the increase in violence.
Please leave a comment.
While I was in Toledo, there were 2 gang related shootings in the space of 3 days. They both took place after parties.
ReplyDeleteThe police chief sums it all up...
"There's simply too many gangs, too many guns and too many drugs on the streets," he said. "We've got a problem with some of our young people are resorting to use of weapons and violence to solve any type of conflicts they may have."
Mike, you are right when you point to the difference between gun control laws from state to state.
You cannot control the traffic between states in any effective manner.
Again, the open uncontrolled sales at gun shows are totally undermining any attempt to regulate gun sales.
I was listening to the BBC last night and they were reporting that in Denmark, where they had experienced a tragic school shooting on par with the now common
place incidents taking place in America, that they were so traumatized over the incident that they were enacting an entire new series of gun control laws.
Gun ownership is not outlawed, but now, gun owners will be subject ot greater accountability and spot checks by the police to ensure that the guns owned by the public are maintained in a secure condition.
Yes, gun ownership is a right, but it is a priveleged, conditional right. The trade has to be controlled. The access to combat weapons has to be made illegal.
You earn the right to own a gun and you must prove that you are competent to keep the right.
by the way, Mike, I have to go away again for 2 weeks. This time I am working at the Chateau Vieux Chevrol with my group of friends cleaning 25 hectares of grape vines....
ReplyDeleteSee you!!
Here's a piece you might be interested in:
ReplyDeletehttp://rawstory.com/blog/2009/05/
germany-plans-national-weapons-
registry-biometric-gun-controls/
This deals with the reaction of Germany to a recent school shooting.
Biometric gun registry plus aggressively banning paintball and laser tag as "sports".
"Often the pro-gun crowd uses Chicago as an example of the failure of gun control laws, but does that mean the laws are working in other cities?"The laws are LESS strict in those other cities mike
ReplyDelete"You earn the right to own a gun and you must prove that you are competent to keep the right."
ReplyDeleteI dare you to apply that standard to the rest of the BOR.
Rights do not have to be earned.
Should you have to prove sufficient knowledge of the legal system to assert your right to counsel? Prove your not a religious fanatic before you're allowed freedom of religion? Prove you have nothing illegal before asserting your 4th amendment rights?
I do not have to prove anything to exercise any of my rights, rather, the government must prove, through due process of law, why I may not.
Micro, Enjoy those vines. I'm sure it's hard work, but it sure sounds romantic and beautiful. Around here we have grape vines as well as olive trees. I'm content to work on my one little olive tree in a pot on my balcony though.
ReplyDeleteMike W., Would you agree that the differing gun control laws in different states makes it difficult to make comparisons? And besides, even if the laws were exactly the same everywhere, don't you think there are other factors which differentiate Chicago from Philadelphia, for example?
ReplyDeleteway to dodge my 2nd comment Mike.
ReplyDeleteSo he was beaten and burned too?
ReplyDeleteMaybe we should ban fists and fire! That'll stop these senseless tragedies!
Mike W. said, "way to dodge my 2nd comment Mike."This in reference, I suppose to this:
ReplyDelete""You earn the right to own a gun and you must prove that you are competent to keep the right."
I dare you to apply that standard to the rest of the BOR. "First of all, a more rhetorical question would be hard to find. Secondly, you quoted Microdot not me. Micro said that bit about earning the right to keep the gun by proving you're competent.
As you know Mike W., you and I have different opinions on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. I think much of what was written therein needs to be seen in the 18th century context in which it was written. I think that includes the quartering of soldiers in private homes as well as the more famous right to bear arms.
"I think much of what was written therein needs to be seen in the 18th century context"Right, but you want to pick and choose which parts to see in an
ReplyDelete18th century context.
I doubt very much you want the courts to interpret the 1st, 4th, or 8th Amendments in an 18th century context.
I know I quoted Micro, thus "you" = Micro in that context, though you (MikeB) are welcome to respond to it as well.
It's not a rhetorical question.
Do you or Micro believe individuals should have to prove "competency" before exercizing their other rights? Before writing a blog post? Before seeking legal counsel? Before freely exercizing their religion?
So Mike & Micro, still no answers?
ReplyDeleteDo you want the rest of the BOR viewed in an 18th century context (goodbye rights for women, minorities, non-property owners)
Do you believe we should have to prove "competency" to the government before being allowed to exercize rights?