2 shot at Chicago high school

[tcfrogs]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Two students were shot this afternoon inside Chicago Vocational High School on the city's South Side, police said. The shooting occurred about 2:15 p.m. at the school, 2100 E. 87th St., police said.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond said it appeared one of the students had a weapon that discharged, striking the other student in the leg. The offender was also somehow shot in the leg before fleeing, she said.

A weapon was recovered at the scene, Bond said. Further details were not immediately available.

Chicago Fire Department spokeswoman Eve Rodriguez said one patient was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County in serious to critical condition, and the other was taken in "stable" condition to Bernard Mitchell Hospital.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0070410school-shooting,0,3613884.story?coll=chi-newsbreaking-hed

[juno jones]

1. It's called a 'safety catch'

Good thing to use when you're packing heat, silly kid.

[frazzled]

2. You don't pack heat in school

If I had my way, you wouldn't "pack heat" anywhere except hunting game in the woods. But that's not the issue here.

What happened to the metal detector? How did this gun get inside the school?

[juno jones]

3. Sorry, I guess I should have used the sarcasm smilie

As a mother of a high schooler, I don't approve of guns at school either...

[DonP]

4. FWIW Handguns have been banned in Chicago since 1976

They closed the Chicago handgun registry in 1976 so the gun is flat out illegal, no matter who brought it in.

Besides, the legal age for handgun ownership in Illinois, and pretty much across the country is 21.

The schools already have a zero tolerance policy on top of that, but CVS has been a tough, school with serious gang related issues since the '70's.

I expect a Tribune article calling for a ban on something that is already banned and overlooking the underlying factors that created the climate of violence at the school in the first place.

Then a plea bargain for the gun holder to keep the offender in juvenile court, no jail time, and eventually a clean record.

[sendero]

6. Yet more proof..

... of the total ineffectiveness of such laws, as if anyone with a 2 brain cells needed more proof.

[billbuckhead]

7. Lets just quit prosecuting murder, the murder law isn't stopping murder

Advanced nations with less easy access to guns have less murder, it's just a fact.

<http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_percap-crime-murders-per-capita>
<http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_mur_wit_fir_percap-crime-murders-firearms-per-capita>

[TheGriz]

8. You're wrong

Check out Finland and Switzerland.

Every Swiss adult male under 30 has a fully automatic SIG 550 (assault rifle) in their home. After they leave the reserve/militia they can have it converted to semiautomatic only, free of charge, and keep it. Switzerland is way down on that list.

If you really want to reduce crime, work to end drug and vice prohibition, improve education, and be nice to people you meet on the bus.

End of story.

[billbuckhead]

11. The Swiss are switching to far more restrictive gun laws!

Both Finland and Switzerland have high murder rates compared to their neighbors.

[sendero]

9. I said someone.

.... with 2 brain cells. Prosecuting murder doens't stop it either, but murder is clearly wrong. Owning a gun is not.

[billbuckhead]

12. Prosecuting murder does have a deterent effect just like stronger gun regs

Japand and Ireland have few guns and virtually no gun crime.

[slackmaster]

5. Dumbass, ignorant kid

Besides the obvious violations of law, school rules, and common sense, nobody has taught him to RESPECT firearms or how to handle them safely.

He'll likely wind up with a felony conviction for this - A handicap that will follow him the rest of his life.

[DonP]

10. Mandatory sentences for gun crimes and this is one!

I'm a pretty firm supporter of the 2nd amendment and believe that crimes with guns BY ANYONE need to be prosecuted severely and consistently.

Here in Chicago they talk a good game about wanting to reduce gun violence.

But then something like this will happen and the kid with the gun's minister and grandmother will appear on camera talking about what a good boy he is and what a fine athlete he is and he has so much potential that would be wasted if he goes to prison etc. I've watched it on the evening news here for decades.

Then the kid will be plea bargained down to a misdemeanor and let off with probation. The same people clamoring for gun control will let him off with the proverbial slap on the wrist.

Next week they will all be at another rally in Englewood to "stop the gun violence" in our city. The newspeople never note the hypocrisy on their part, the part of the communities involved or the Daley administration.

How about my "modest proposal" instead:

10 years for your first offense with a gun, no matter what your age; no probation, no juvenile court, no plea bargains, mandatory sentence. Make using a gun for a crime a "send them up the river" offense. I'm also not against stiff fines for the clueless parent(s) of anyone arrested for a gun crime under 15 years old.

20 years for the second offense.

30 for your third.

If you think that's "cruel and unusual punishment" I'm open to other suggestions as long as they penalize the people committing crimes with guns and leave law abiding gun owners alone.