June 01, 2020
By Mark Chestnut
While many people these days are talking about what the "new normal" will be like after the COVID-19 pandemic eases, some municipalities with restrictive gun control laws are proving that they’ll likely be sticking with their “old normal” as far as murder and mayhem are concerned—or worse.
Reports out of Chicago showed that the Windy City had more murders over this year's Memorial Day weekend than the same weekend in several years, proving once again that restricting gun ownership by the law-abiding while letting violent criminals run free leads to a more dangerous city for everyone.
According to NBCChicago.com, 10 people were killed and 42 were injured in shootings over the holiday weekend, proving even a pandemic lockdown can’t stop those intent on murdering others. Last year, seven were killed and 34 wounded, while in 2018, six were killed and 44 wounded.
While Chicago’s failed gun control continues to lead to more and more murders, Chicago's mayor seems more intent on policing those who defy her stay-at-home policy, threatening them with arrest. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said earlier this month that police are authorized to arrest those who violate her stay-at-home order during the pandemic.
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“We will shut you down, we will cite you, and if we need to, we will arrest you and we will take you to jail,” she said. “If you host a party, promote a party, or go to a party, we are not playing games. We mean business, and we will shut this down one way or another.”
“The time for educating people into compliance is over. Don’t be stupid. We’re watching you, and we’re going to take decisive action.”
If Lightfoot would take Chicago residents murdering each other in record as seriously as she does people gathering to spend time with family and friends, things might change in the Windy City. A combination of tougher policing, sending dangerous felons to prison for longer than a year or two and easing policies making it easier for law-abiding Chicagoans to defend themselves would go a long way to reducing the city’s murder crisis once and for all.
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In the meantime, it’s the good citizens of Chicago who suffer, held hostage by violent gang members turning the streets of some neighborhoods into a veritable war zone.
Freelance writer and editor Mark Chesnut is the owner/editorial director at Red Setter Communications LLC. An avid hunter, shooter and political observer, he has been covering Second Amendment issues and politics on a near-daily basis for the past 20 years.
