In just seven hours Monday night, gang violence left five Chicagoans shot dead and a dozen more wounded. Horrifically, an 11-month-old child was wounded, his mother and grandmother killed. Police said they were innocent victims of a gang turf war.
U.S. Attorney Zach Fardon had just revealed that Chicago gang murders are up 20 percent over last year. Mayor Rahm Emmanuel again directed the blame toward guns: “It’s time that our criminal justice system and the laws as it relates to access to guns and the laws for using them reflect the values of the people of the city of Chicago.”
But while Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy agreed, he also revealed the root of the problem: “We have to hold criminals responsible … it’s the same pattern over and over again. Until such time that they are held accountable, we could make a billion gun arrests a year, and it’s not going to make a difference.”
