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In reply to the discussion: 15-year-old girl who performed at Obama inauguration gunned down in Chicago [View all]AngryAmish
(25,704 posts)A few years a go the murder rate was down. The penalties for unlawful possession of a firearm and felon in possession went up, dudes started getting pinched with guns and they were going away for a long time, like 2-5 years. Folks started carrying guns less, fewer murders.
Contrary to popular perception, this surge in murders in Chicago have little to do with fights over drug turf. It is imbeciles shooting other morons over trivial shit. Insults on facebook. Being "disrespected". Fools will always be fools but fools with guns are very dangerous. Also, many of the leaders of the big gangs - Gangster Disciples come to mind - have gone away and won't be getting out. So different subsets or cliques of the same gangs are shooting each other. Teenagers killing teenagers.
OK, back to the fiscal story. Illinois cannot house enough prisoners nowadays. Heck, there are prisons built that can't be staffed. We are selling a prison to the Feds. Illinois is worse than broke - we don't pay out bills. So since the state won't house these shitheads the charges get tossed or plead down - instead for IDOC time it is plead to time served in county.
So, what is going to change because of this poor girls murder? Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Sure there will be a march of the reverends (many of whom are in bed with gangs). Rahm may shed another tear at this funeral. But the resources and the will to crack down is not here and will not return.
(Also, the Chicago Police Department has by and large retired in place. Moral is in the toilet. Manpower is down because...wait for it...the City is broke.)
Chicago is in a death spiral. I'm leaving.