We keep saying we need tougher laws. Well we have the laws. We need to blame the greed of the country for the violence. I am an ex gang member who did time and took a life before. These children are not educated and have the wrong role models in their lives. Twenty years ago we had alot of things to do the muesuems were free, there were gyms that had after school programs that were free, the Ymca was free and most importantly our parents was not afraid of us. These children have nothing to do after school and place to hang out and learn other things besides violence. The way to take these streets back is to educate these kids and give them thing to exert that energy on other than violence. We need more programs like cease fire but we need people who have been down that rode that these kids can relate to.

SELF DEFENSE IS NOT A PRIVILEGE....
Chicago already has the strictest gun control law in the United States (along with Washington D.C.)....no one is allowed to have a handgun. period. EXCEPT FOR CRIMINALS who by their very definition will not obey the laws.
One answer might be is to enforce the laws (that already exist) against those who use a handgun in a criminal action and quit babying these repeat offenders and allow honest law abiding citizens to bear arms against the CRIMINALS as allowed by the 2nd Amendment of our BILL OF RIGHTS.
The police cannot be everywhere all the time....they are good and brave people but there are not enough of them to effectively stop crime. Now, we honest citizens must be allowed to protect ourselves...self defense is not a privilege.....it is a right and a responsibility.

This is for Ray. I agree with most of what u said and was with u until u started about the area in which the shootings are taking place. I live on the south side not that far from kedzie and 55th ( the shooting which involved two teens last week i think). My husband and I purchased a house five years ago for our children and now wish we had elsewhere. The people on my block are all home owners, quite and very pleasant, but a couple blocks down there are gangs, guys in the streets selling drugs etc. I am an at home mom and my husband works sometimes 6 to 7 days a week just so we can make ends meat so I can stay home to watch our children.
Most of the problems is PARENTS, PARENTS, PARENTS and yes once again PARENTS!!!!!! If Mothers and Fathers would actually give a damn about what their children were doing we would not have all this teen violence. This goes for the north, east, west and south sides of chicago! I really pray women who have children would realize it is a life long job and men would stand up and raise their children as they wished their own fathers would have.

Doesn't it seem strange that in the city with the strictest gun laws, all of this gun related crime is occuring? Let us law abiding citizens carry concealed weapons, like the other 48 States allow, and we'll see how willing these Punks are to pull thier pistols in public! Society will keep itself in check. When seconds count, Police will always be minutes away.

what all these people do not understand is NONE of these guns are legal. no matter how many laws you make against guns, the criminals will still have them. so why take away the rights of law abiding citizens when it wont make a difference anyway?

just do some research on gun violence in states that its legal to carry or carry & conceal a weapon if you a law abiding citizen. i.e. Arizona, Alaska, Texas, Indiana, etc.
the gun violence is a minimum in these states because a majority of people have a weapon accessible to them right away. if we all carried guns for our personal protection, trust me the criminals will think twice before pulling a gun out in rage or aggression.

on another note ALL of these shootings are in BAD areas of the city. why is that? because most of the people that hang around there DO NOT WORK and do nothing but hang on the corner and sell drugs all day or gang bang cause its "their hood" BS get a job, take away public aid from these people and make them earn a living. and you know what, the area would improve and bring the community out and keep the thugs away. its not a race issue, its an issue of our government handing money out like its candy to people that do not deserve it. if you are a continuous drug user or dealer you should not get a dime from the government. sure people fall on hard times a screw up, thats ok. if you keep doing it over and over, screw you get a damn job and support yourself. i could go on for hours and hours. i just wish they would let me say this on the air to get it accross to all these anti-gun protesters. GUNS DONT KILL PEOPLE, PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. and NO MATTER HOW MANY BANS YOU MAKE, CRIMINALS WILL STILL HAVE THE GUNS AND WE WILL NOT. what kind of society is that?

I am a retired business executive, a military veteran, and a firearm owner. More gun control laws are not the answer to the problem. The problem that we have is that our judiciary system is overburdened to the point that only the most violent criminals are behind bars. What is needed is a law that requires a mandatory prison term of 20 years or more for any crime committed with a firearm, be it a violent crime or merely selling or possessing a firearm illegally. Then enforce the law once it's on the books.

We do not need more gun control laws! Why do we not EVER hear about the person CAUGHT with the gun? Things like their age, if they are minors where their parents are, or where the gun came from (by tracking the gun's serial number)? let us know! We also need to make PARENTS more responsible for their children! Not to sound uncaring, but when a child is shot, their family is all there in front of the camera. Ovbiously they have time for that, WHERE were they before that? TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CHILDREN!!! If you want them to stay around for a while, stay around them! Take an interest in their lives!

Also, why do we not hear about pressure being put on the police to find these guns before they can be used??? Handguns are banned in Chicago, that should make it more cut-and-dry for them. Go out and FIND THE WEAPONS THAT ARE KILLING!!!

Come summer, we are going to hear about drunk driving (which kills more people than guns every year) will go up, should we ban cars? Alcohol? Where does it end?

The reason all of this is happening is because of DCFS. DCFS will not allow us to raise our children and to discipline them when needed. Children have the right to call the police on their parents and have them arrested if the parent says they can not do something. The BIBLE says SPARE NOT THE ROD. Children need to be taught right from wrong and if they need discipline. DCFS need to let parents be parents and stop trying to take our kids and let us raise our kids.

The availability of guns is a major contributing factor to the escalation of crime throughout this country. There are two components to the existence of our misery. The media and parental control.

The graphic violence in videos is duplicated with davastating consequences by our children. The music industry must be held accountable for the diabolical actions of our young people as well.

But most importantly, the parents MUST know what is going on with their children.

Dwight Taylor
Gary, Indiana

Why is it that the federal government has spent billions on foreign terrorism, but only millions on domestic terrorism. The question I have is why doesn't the federal goverment consider gang activity especially violence as a form of terrorism. Make gang members face federal laws and courts. Use Federal agencies to track gang activity and federal officers to make arrests. Use the national guard to protect Chicago Public Schools. Why are we hiring security when we could have National Guard Troops protecting the schools as part of their service.

Thank you,

Harlan Teacher

More gun laws are not the answer to our city's violence. Father Michael Pfleger and the Mayor will only take guns out of the hands of law bidding citizens as they continue this push for more gun laws. Gangs will always have guns.

I am a teacher-librarian in a Chicago Public elementary School and I am terribly concerned with the increase in violence displayed by many of our students, both male and female, Preschool through 8th grade. It is as though it is a form of entertainment for them. They seem so distracted by their small worlds, resisting connection to the larger world around them. It is so easy to blame the parents. However that is a cope out unless we are willing to reach out to the parents, too. Many of the parents of my students were young teenage parents and also had a difficult time in school and consequently in their lives after school. Many of my students are products of parents or single parents who see the world through BET shows and violent rap music. I don't have any answers or solutions here and I must admit that I am confounded by the hopelessness of my students, but I refuse to give up. I will always be willing to talk about this...whether one to one or in an open forum. But we have to keep talking about. We have to keep putting solutions on the table. There is however one thing that needs to be accomplish to begin to quell the violence and that is GUN CONTROL. This of course will always be controversial because so many believe that gun ownership is protected by our US Constitution. So, I ask why have that fight...there is not end to that argument. So I propose something that comedian Chris Rock joked about in his show "Bigger and Blacker," BULLET CONTROL. No joke...California legislature is actually considering some form of BULLET CONTROL. Here's the transcript of the Chris Rock show that I speak of...
Chris Rock: Everybody is talking about gun control. Got to control the guns...No, I think we need some bullet control. I think every bullet should cost five thousand dollars. Five thousand dollars for a bullet. Know why? Cos if a bullet cost five thousand dollars, there'd be no more innocent by-standers. That'd be it. Some guy'd be shot you'd be all 'D***, he must've done something, he's got fifty thousand dollars worth of bullets in his a**!' And people'd think before they shot someone 'Man I will blow your f***ing head off, if I could afford it. I'm gonna get me a second job, start saving up, and you a dead man. You'd better hope I don't get no bullets on lay-away!' And even if you get shot you wouldn't need to go to the emergency room. Whoever shot you'd take their bullet back. 'I believe you got my property?'...
Also if you Google 'Chris Rock bullet control' you'll get links to YouTube videos of that segment of the show. Essentially, if we make it very difficult to obtain bullets, gun violence will decrease.

Gun laws will not solve problems. The system needs to be reinforced more and the children need to be educated to know whats right and wrong.

Don's post on 4/8/08 at 1:54 pm pretty well sums it up. There is already plenty of Gun Control laws on the books. More than enough, perhaps too much. What currently exists isn't enforced. Chicago already has draconian laws in place.

First off, MURDER is against the laws of the land and God. Addressing the root cause of the violence is the key. How can these children, young adults and adults be turned from a lifestyle of crime and violence? More gun control isn't the answer.

A strong neighborhood is a key. Folks have to look out for each other and report crime. Then the police need to respond rapidly, without excessive force - but be allowed to use what is required for the situation - AND be backed up by the community. Police should be involved in the neiborhood, like the old beat cop.

Even more important is a close knit family environment. A mother and father that are involved with their children. A couple that instill morals, stress education and a strong work ethic. Following faith in God Almighty certainly would be good too.

Community development would help. Be cleaning up streets, renewing and revitalizing business could stimulate economy and help to eliminate poverty. Make decent housing available so people take pride in their homes and neighborhood so they band together and don't allow the violence and crime in and around their homes and neighborhood.

I know, sounds like Utopia eh? Well, it could be done but the PEOPLE need to step up and do it, but they need support from the government administrations too. Guns, knives, bats, etc. truly don't kill people. They never hop off a shelf and do it alone. It take a hard, cold heart. One that has no respect for life - the ones they take or even their own. That's what needs to be changed. Remove that hate and anger, replace it with hope and a will to be a better person and part of community and you won't have this violence. Of course when you hear of Chicago cops selling guns to gangbangers that are felons, as was on the news a couple months back, sure doesn't help. King Richard doesn't get it! Clean up your own house first your Highness!

www.gunmap.org

www.gunmap.org

First let me say I was a HS drop-out, single, teen mom of two boys. I am now in my 30s, married, have another
child, received my GED and have recieved some college education.
Last year my youngest son was shot three times and almost died only a few blocks from his HS. My son is not in a gang
to my knowledge. My son however left school early with another child he barely knew and was then shot. No, no one had
the right nor did my son deserve to be shot three times. I am tired of these teen victims parents who claim their child was
completely innocent! I love my son dearly but bottom line is if he was in school where he should of been it would of never
happened to him. NO not every teen victim of a shooting is completely innocent! I am an active parent who knows where
their child is or should be at, almost all of the time.
That being said, NO AMOUNT OF LAWS CONCERNING GUN CONTROL WILL HELP OUR CURRENT SITUATION!
The only legal guns allowed in Chgo. to citizens without a job in law enforcement are shot guns and riffles. From what
I have seen and heard in the news none of the teens who were shot where shot with a riffle or shot gun. The guns involve
in these shootings are all illegal hand guns. Where are they getting these guns? Where are these teen hidding these guns
when they go home at night?
It is the constitutional right for responsible, citizens with out criminal backgrounds to bear arms. Yes I still believe this even
though I almost lost my beautiful youngest son to gun violence.
1. PARENTS NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILD LIFE (CHILDREN DIDN'T ASK TO BE BORN AND IT IS A STRUGGLE
TO RAISE CHILDREN BUT WE ALL KNOW THIS)
2. THE CITY NEEDS MORE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING/
SOMEWHERE TO GO WHEN THEY HAVE NO ONE TO GO HOME TO.
3. CHILDREN/TEENS NEED TO BELIEVE IN A HIGHER POWER (GOD ETC. WHATEVER UR BELIEF)
4. IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

I recently asked my oldest son (eighteen) his thoughts about all this violence. He said most of his friends don't have a father
figure and their mom is either to busy working or doesn't care. How sad! He has also said many of his friends tell him how
lucky he is to have two parents at home who care and love him. I truely believe many of these teens would not be in gangs
nor as violent as they are if they were raise with two loving parents to guide in the right direction. I also don't want to hear
the excuse that these teens were raised by single teen moms who didn't know any better. I was a single teen mom who
was determined not to do to my children what was done or shall I say not done for me by my parents.
One last thing my son told me was that he actually thinks "if I get in trouble mom and dad are going to kick my a** when they
find out" but many of his friends don't think that way
I will continue to pray for the violence to stop and for all the family members of the teens.

Blessings and thank you for this chance to voice my opinion.
POWER BACK TO PARENTS.... YES !! I have noticed the law change in 19?? where children now and teens treaten parents for dicaplin actions. We used to get checked by our neighbors and they would tell our parents. submission to spirituality or any type of true guidence of responsibility is replaced with violence and video games (that I dont care atitude).. parents need to take back control and the law along with economics prevents this in our society today. Talking and spendind quality time helps but the decision is still in the hands of the individual, if given proper choice the proper choice is made. Without a choice guided by good parenting, education and neighbors. A child has a much better chance of developing into a positive roll rather than the glimer of profiled gansters.... I herd of a program called Amer-I-can in Cleveland Ohio and wonder if after school programs like this exist in the Chicago area... These children have skills and can be used in a positive manor. The street salers are savey and smart, with lookouts, protection and economic development. Why not show them how to take the streets to Wall Street... Educate them with what they already do but twist it to benefit not harm each other. We are the only race of people that wont truly patronize each other. Lets stop the violence and prejudices with TUFF LOVE, parenting options and guidence with understanding.
Thank you and many blessing.
JC

How can gun control reduce or regulate
"enfluencing" predators that reach our kids that might be coming from outside the area or are older/older gang members? Just thought of adding this to the discussion.