Today, I'm embracing the second amendment.

[HoneyBadger]

149. Gun violence in Chicago is being addressed differently in 2017

With a 3 prong approach directed against gangs, drugs, and ILLEGAL guns

Did you know that most of the people killed in Chicago were already pre identified by the police as likely to be involved in a future crime? That says to me that gangs are the number one issue. Is there a reason to be in a gang?

How about if we try to take every single one of these people and find them a job and housing in a different community? Something along the lines of a witness protection program. I think that would make a bigger difference than anything........save their lives and thus save Chicago.


According to WGN, shootings were up nearly 50 percent from 2015 and the number of homicides jumped nearly 65 percent. It was the deadliest year in Chicago since 1996.

CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson described the year as “difficult” and “disheartening.” The majority of the violence came from five police districts on the city’s west and south sides.

“Despite the belief that the entire city is up for grabs, the majority of the increase in the violence we saw in 2016, the majority of the violence was driven by 5 out of the 22 police districts," Johnson said.

Authorities attributed the problems to gangs, drugs and illegal guns. Johnson said there’s more to reducing violence than simply making more arrests. He said the department couldn’t do it by itself.

He outlined changes for 2017 intended to stem the tide of violence:

Hiring additional officers
Offering incentives to developers who bring jobs to high-crime communities
Mentoring teens in the city’s 20 most violent neighborhoods
Strengthening gun laws for repeat offenders
Focusing on policies and training
Revising the department’s community policing strategy
Johnson said the department will increase its use of technology including street cameras and body cameras. The department will also open a pair of “strategic decision support centers” to provide real-time information and analysis. The centers will be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week