Should the National Guard be deployed in Chicago?

[spin]

Police Supt. Weis: National Guard isn't solution to city's gun violence

State Reps. Fritchey and Ford want National Guard's help fighting crime

April 25, 2010

Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis today spoke out against a request for the Illinois National Guard to be to deployed on Chicago’s streets to help tackle gun violence.

Stopping just short of outright rejecting the request from state lawmakers Rep. John Fritchey and Rep. LaShawn Ford, Weis said “I don't think the National Guard is the solution.”

At a press conference earlier Sunday, Fritchey and Ford had called on Gov. Quinn and Mayor Daley to deploy troops. The action, in coordination with Weis, should be taken as soon as possible to help get guns and criminals off the street, they said.

The two Chicago Democrats noted National Guard members are now working side-by-side with U.S. troops to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while another deadly war is taking place in Chicago neighborhoods.

“Is calling for National Guard deployment a drastic action? Of course it is,” said Fritchey. “Is it warranted under these circumstances? Without question. If we can bring (the National Guard) in to help fill sandbags for flooding... to deal with tornado debris, we can bring them in to save lives.”

So far this year, 113 people have been killed across Chicago — precisely the same number as the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined during the same time period, the legislators noted.

"U.S. troops have been winning the hearts and minds (of people) in Iraq," Ford said. “They’ve stabilized those communities. They made those communities much better. Now those communities are safe. That’s what we want right here in Illinois, for the National Guard to come in and stabilize these communities.”

Fritchey and Ford noted the National Guard has been deployed in other states to prevent violence related to specific events and protests, but added that they were unaware of guardsmen and women being deployed to assist with general urban unrest.

They stressed a call for National Guard help here should not be equated with marshal law.

“We’re not talking about rolling tanks down the street,” Fritchey said. “We’re not talking about armed presence on every corner. We’re talking about individuals, men and woman that have been specifically trained to assist law enforcement and, assist with civil unrest. This is what the National Guard in part is trained to do.”

***snip***

They added Weis recently pointed out most violent crime in Chicago happens on just 9 percent of the city's blocks. To target these “hot spots,” Weis has said he was seeking 100 officers to volunteer for a summer-long “strategic response team.”

Deploying the Guard is a better option, Fritchey and Ford contend.

While Weis came out against the suggestion Sunday, he did add that he had yet to discuss it with the mayor and that is something he was willing to “explore.”

“I’d have to see what the mayor’s position on this is,” he said. “If he’s open to it, you know, of course, I’d be open to it. I have certain concerns, based on my time in law enforcement and the United States military.”
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2199050,national-guard-gun-violence-chicago-042510.article

[rfranklin]

1. The solution, according to our very own Gun forum, is more guns for all!

If only every citizen carried a 9 mm with a clip of 15 rounds, violence would disappear.

[CreatureFeature]

2. All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.

When good people stand up to criminals we win, because we outnumber them.

[Skittles]

3. LOL

standing up to criminals is one thing; arming EVERYONE is another

[CreatureFeature]

42. I am a Martial Arts Instructor

I know the value of preparing people with the skills and resources they need to stand up to those who would do them harm.

[Xenotime]

5. That is the LAST thing you want in Chicago

[hack89]

8. Just the law abiding citizens

the criminals are doing just fine getting all the guns they want.

[baldguy]

12. Criminals do just fine with the guns they buy from law-abiding citizens.

[hack89]

18. By definition, only criminals sell guns to other criminals.

selling guns to felons is a crime - the problem is criminal activity. Go deal with the criminals - leave my civil rights alone.

[baldguy]

19. Thats what the gun show loophole is for - to keep the private sellers law-abiding.

At least on paper.

[hack89]

20. No

Licensed FFLs have to do background checks at gun shows. There is no paper involved in private sell - but it is still illegal to sell to a felon. Or some one that lives in a different state. There are plenty of laws - why don't you go enforce them and leave my civil rights alone.

[baldguy]

21. And criminals can avoid background check by dealing exclusivly with private sellers.

That's why it's called a loophole. It allows criminals to have legal access to weapons, and creates the problems we see in cities where the people chose to ban guns.


The gun ban isn't responsible for the gun violence in Chicago - it's irresponsible "law-abiding" private sellers who deal with criminals.

[hack89]

22. And how do you proposed to solve this problem?

ban all private sales?

I find your phrase "where the people chose to ban guns." interesting. Do you support State rights? Can states ban abortion if there is sufficient popular support? Make African-Americans take tests before they can vote? What other civil rights are purely a local matter?

[baldguy]

23. Sorry, gun owners are not an oppressed minority.

They're more likely to be the oppressors.

The first step in solving a problem is to acknowledge the problem exists. A big step toward alleviating the problem of gun violence is reasonable & legal: register every gun & license every gun owner. Treat people who sell to criminals like the criminals they are; treat gun owners who behave irresponsibly like the criminals they are.

[hack89]

25. What problem?

gun violence is plummeting and is at historically low levels as gun ownership skyrockets.

You really think that none of the existing 20,000 gun laws in America don't presently address the issue of illegally selling guns to criminals or irresponsible use of firearms? Are you going to make it double illegal? How about we enforce the laws already on the books?

[baldguy]

26. Game, set, match.

I win, you lose. Goodbye.

[hack89]

28. You win because you run away from facts? OK nt

[pipoman]

35. Sorry, pit bull owners are not an oppresses minority.

They're more likely to be the oppressors.

The first step in solving a problem is to acknowledge the problem exists. A big step toward alleviating the problem of pit bull violence is reasonable & legal: register every pit bull & license every pit bull owner. Treat people who sell to criminals like the criminals they are; treat pit bull owners who behave irresponsibly like the criminals they are.

See how silly that sounds?

[elocs]

9. More guns are their answer for everything.

I think they fervently believe that it is unfair that the Second Amendment is not the first.

The Gungeon is like having to endure a Teahadist forum here on DU that says that Democrats would get more votes if only they embraced Teahadist ideals. I wish I could banish that forum from even appearing on my DU screen.

[pipoman]

37. How very progressive of you..eom

[Lurks Often]

11. Just another ignorant post

from someone who doesn't like guns. Chicago has a COMPLETE ban on handguns. Aside from a few select politicians, NO ONE is allowed to have a handgun in Chicago. Doesn't seem the handgun ban is working too well.

Crime is a function of social and economic pressures, not the availability of firearms. The states that have the lowest crime rates are the same states where guns are common and gun laws are less restrictive.

[harkadog]

27. The solution, according to our very own anti-gun posters

is to take away people's guns. Oh wait, they did that in Chicago. It has the toughest and most extensive gun ban in the nation.

[NNN0LHI]

31. Are you suggesting things would be better if guns were more accessible here?

[harkadog]

40. Yes.

Whenever civil rights are respected life is better.

[spin]

32. In the long run, allowing Chicago citizens to own firearms might reduce violent crime ...

however the question is, what should be done right now?

It would take years before enough citizens bought firearms to make much of a difference in the crime rate in Chicago. A lot of the violence is gang related. A home with a firearm inside will do little to curtail drive by shootings by gang members fighting over turf and respect.

Unfortunately, the gang members not only shoot other gang members (which in itself is tragic), they shoot innocent people too.

[paulsby]

39. strawman

and as usual.

it would not be a SOLUTION, but it would be preferable that citizens be allowed to CHOOSE to own/carry a weapon... as they can in such terrible places as seattle.

i have yet to see ANYBODY say that we should arm everybody "more guns for all"

this is the classic "arm everyone" canard.

and it's a lie

hth

[Better Today]

4. Fund good jobs at good wages instead, and a lot will resolve itself.

I've been hearing about the problems like this for years, different cities, different times. What we need is to give them an alternative to the crime and the localized anarchy.

Unemployment/underemployment is always the main problem. Just my opinion.

[baldguy]

10. +1000

Our cities have been abandoned by the federal govt - with the expected & disastrous results.

[pipoman]

38. We agree but it isn't just the cities, it is labor in every area who have been abandoned

[NNN0LHI]

14. Some kind of drug legalization would help out because that is what most these killings are over

Problem is doing that would put the gangs out of business but it would also put a lot of cops, lawyers and court employees out of work too so its not going to happen.

Too much money involved.

Don

[Pavulon]

16. Bingo. This is the EXACT cause for this violence(nt)

[Better Today]

17. I agree that's #2. Good paying jobs is still #1, imo.

[Selatius]

30. Poverty is a big issue in the US. We abandoned our War On Poverty with LBJ. nt

[jpak]

6. Whew - I thought it was another Democratic Party convention hosted by that faker-hater mayor

nevermind

:evilgrin:

[jody]

7. IL governor has the authority to deploy IL guard as well as activate IL's unorganized militia.

(20 ILCS 1805/1) (from Ch. 129, par. 220.01)
Sec. 1. All able bodied citizens of this State and all other able bodied residents in this State who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, between the ages of 18 and 45, except such as are expressly exempted by the laws of the United States and the State of Illinois, shall be subject to military duty and designated as the Illinois State Militia.

20 ILCS 1815/2) (from Ch. 129, par. 230)
Sec. 2. Whenever the Governor as Commander in Chief of the military forces of the State, deems it necessary or advisable for the purpose of executing the laws of the State, or of preventing actual or threatened violation thereof, such as suppressing actual or threatened insurrection, invasion, tumult, riots, or mobs, or when the nation is at war and a requisition or order has been made, or is likely to be made, by the President of the United States calling the National Guard, or parts thereof, into the National service, or for any other emergency, the Governor may issue a proclamation or call for volunteer companies, battalions, regiments, brigades, or other units of land and air forces to be known as the Illinois State Guard which shall be formed and organized from the unorganized militia of the State, consisting of all able bodied citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 years, and of other able bodied citizens between the ages of 45 and 55 years, as enlisted personnel, and of commissioned officers and warrant officers, when made necessary by an emergency.

[NNN0LHI]

13. I don't know what the answer is but its getting pretty bad here

Every morning I pick up the paper and several more people have been shot.

Lot of little kids getting killed.

I doubt more guns is the answer.

Don

[Hawkeye-X]

15. Unless Obama restored the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 that Chimp repealed

NG can help Chicago but the NG's are pretty stretched.

Hawkeye-X

[harkadog]

29. The changes Congress made in 2006

were repealed in 2008. The Act is still in force in their original language.

[undeterred]

24. Deploy Rahm Emanuel.

[proteus_lives]

33. Oppressive gun control works like gangbusters, huh?

:rofl:

[NNN0LHI]

34. You think if we passed out a gun to every gangbanger in Chicago everything would be cool?

:rofl:

[proteus_lives]

36. Unlike antis, I know the world isn't black and white.

The true is in between the two extremes.

But you know that, even if you won't admit it.

[spin]

41. No. But you might take firearms away from gangbangers ...

Chicago has disarmed honest citizens and still has problems.

Obviously, the next best step would be to disarm criminals and gang members.

Chicago can at least try. For one if they find an illegal gun on a person or in a vehicle, they can throw the book at the person and make sure he spends a lot of time in jail.

But this does require good police work and I wonder if Chicago is so corrupt that everyone from the major to the cop of the street is on the take.

Thank God I don't live in Chicago.