| Every year during the summer months a number of | | | | month the media discovered the existence of a list |
| Chicagoans get killed because of gang violence. The | | | | of hundreds of police officers that had more than |
| politicians are always called upon to do "something." | | | | ten complaints from the public. Recently, there were |
| The most "media friendly" thing to do is to blame it all | | | | officers on trial for robbing drug dealers, beating up a |
| on gun ownership. | | | | female bar tender, and assorted other night club |
| The media had a great time this month covering all | | | | incidents. I've been told by a former policeman that |
| the anti gun marches. They were staged by, none | | | | there are a lot of alcoholic officers out there, but |
| other than the "King of Political Correctness," Rev. | | | | related statistics are hard to find. With such a |
| Jesse Jackson, aided by his comrade, the pastor of | | | | reputation, it's hard to believe that the current police |
| Saint Sabina Church, Father Michael Pfleger. Chicago's | | | | force can effectively act as our "guardian angels." |
| Mayor, Richard M. Daley, threw in some anti gun | | | | Even if the police force is perfect, officers only arrive |
| rants of his own, while TV cameras rolled. | | | | after the crime has been committed. Having a |
| On one occasion Jackson and Pfleger marched on | | | | weapon can deter the criminal and save our lives and |
| Chuck's Gun Shop in Riverdale. According to several | | | | the lives of our loved ones. Chicago's law, however, |
| sources, Father Pfleger twice threatened to "snuff | | | | makes it illegal to save your own life if it's done with |
| out" the owner of the store. I'm all for free speech, | | | | a firearm. |
| but it's interesting how hypocritical "political | | | | Taking guns off the streets does not reduce crime, |
| correctness" can be. Don Imus just made a bad | | | | but doing the opposite works a lot better. |
| choice of words on his radio show. His mistake was | | | | Everywhere concealed carry laws (laws that allow |
| spread by the media throughout the world and | | | | ordinary citizens to carry weapons) have been |
| eventually resulted in his firing. Father Pfleger, on the | | | | enacted the crime rate plummeted. Guns in the hands |
| other hand, threatened to kill a law abiding citizen, yet | | | | of reasonable people lower crime. |
| there was very little mention of it in the media. It | | | | Kennesaw, Georgia is known as "Gun Town USA." In |
| seems that if you're on the "pro-media" side, you are | | | | March 1982 the small town of Kennesaw unanimously |
| allowed freedom of speech, otherwise, your | | | | passed an ordinance requiring each head of household |
| reputation could be ruined. | | | | to own and maintain a gun. Kennesaw's law was |
| Another headline grabbing program was the plea to | | | | amended in 1983 to exclude convicted felons, those |
| turn in your gun at designated churches and police | | | | who conscientiously object to firearm ownership, and |
| stations with no questions asked. For this good deed | | | | those with a mental or physical disability that would |
| you would get a one hundred dollar debit MasterCard. | | | | make firearm ownership dangerous. The crime rate |
| On Saturday July 22, 2007 the city of Chicago, | | | | fell after this law was passed, and even though the |
| collected 6700 guns from its citizens. This "event" | | | | population grew five fold, the crime rate is still lower |
| gave the local media days of the "heart wrenching" | | | | than the pre-1982 rate. This town has also remained |
| news coverage they crave. According to the media, | | | | murder free during the past twenty-five years. |
| this year, Chicago's gun turn-in program was the | | | | Realistically, Kennesaw doesn't have street gangs like |
| largest ever, even beating all other gun turn-in | | | | Chicago. The citizens of Chicago haven't been able to |
| programs throughout the country. | | | | legally own guns since 1982, yet gang related |
| There are several reasons why I think such programs | | | | shootings are still common. It is illogical for Chicago |
| are bad for America. | | | | officials to think that stricter gun laws are going to |
| | | | stop the gangs. Gangs don't care about the law, and |
| 1. The guns are turned in anonymously. Some of the | | | | they'll still be able to get as many guns as they want. |
| guns could have been used in the commission of | | | | On the other hand, law abiding citizens have to |
| capital crimes. It will be harder to prosecute someone | | | | depend on Chicago's highly flawed police force for |
| if the weapon he committed the crime with was | | | | their protection. |
| turned over to the city and destroyed. | | | | For the record, I don't personally own a gun. I've |
| 2. Guns that are old and don't work well can be | | | | fired a rifle many years ago when I was in the army. |
| turned in to get a down payment to buy a more | | | | Right now, I carry a small can of mace as protection. |
| modern weapon. | | | | One day, I expect the city's control-freak lawmakers |
| 3. Instead of destroying all the guns, some may wind | | | | to even ban the mace. If it were legal, I'd get a small |
| up as police secondary weapons known also as | | | | pistol and carry it in addition to the mace. I'd learn |
| "throw aways." Recent events have shown that the | | | | everything about my weapon and periodically go to a |
| Chicago Police Department can't be trusted. | | | | gun range so that I could practice hitting my intended |
| 4. Hardened criminals, who aren't concerned with | | | | target properly. Ever since I've been carrying my |
| ditching the evidence, will never turn in their guns. | | | | mace(30 years), I've never had to use it. The same |
| 5. Statistically, gun turn in programs do not reduce | | | | would hold true if I was carrying a gun. The |
| crime. | | | | difference would be that I'd have a stronger sense |
| God-given rights are protected by the U.S. | | | | of safety and more peace of mind. |
| Constitution. One of the God-given rights is the right | | | | It's time for Chicago politicians and preachers to wise |
| to life. It, then follows, that you have the right to | | | | up. Reverend Jackson, Father Pfleger, and you too |
| protect your life. In the modern world, gun ownership | | | | Mayor Daley, more gun control will not affect the |
| is a reasonable means of protecting your life from | | | | carnage. The nature of our corporate alien society is |
| criminal elements. Chicago's law prohibiting gun | | | | what drives the gangs. Rising poverty, dissolution of |
| ownership in the city is not only unconstitutional, but | | | | the family, "politically correct" schools, and "audience |
| violates a God-given right to protect one's self. | | | | hungry" media are some of the real factors that |
| Chicago leaders insist that we can adequately be | | | | need to be addressed. |
| protected by the Chicago Police Department. This | | | | |