Pulaski

The final tally is not reported yet, but it looks like I was over on both counts. One death is one death too many, but as of Sunday evening I was waaay over on the fatalities, with only one reported.

scrubbedexpat099

Quiet

22/1

Perhaps those CC holders are having an impact.

Leslie

I can't decide if you're actually mental or just suffering from internet tourettes.

scrubbedexpat099

Nowhere near the norm it seems for this time of year. A quick look did not produce any comments on why.

Hiro11

A little perspective here:

1. Chicago ranks 17th in US cities in overall violent crime rate. Kansas City, for example, is significantly more dangerous. St Louis is far, far more dangerous. You don't hear many people talking about violence in Kansas City. For all of its image problems, Chicago isn't a particularly dangerous place relative to other large US cities.

2. Chicago's overall violent crime rate has fallen dramatically in the last twenty years and is currently at levels not seen since the early sixties. The murder rate in Chicago is (somewhat shockingly) less than half what it was in the bad old days of the crack-plagued early 90s. It's still not great, but the trend is certainly going in the right direction.

3. Others have pointed out that violence in Chicago is highly localized. A glance at a map of murders shows this to be true. This, of course, doesn't help people who live in violent areas, but it's clear that the vast majority of the city is safe. I've lived here for 14 years and never once felt in danger. It's really a tale of two cities, that are the same city. People in some neighborhoods on the South Side and West Side of Chicago live in conditions that most of us would probably find akin to Caracas, or perhaps hell. Meanwhile, the entire (much bigger) North Side is sort of like Stockholm, Gold Coast/Streeterville/Lincoln Park is sort of like Chelsea, Wicker Park/Logan Square/Wrigleyville/Lakeview is essentially upscale Brooklyn.

4. Gun violence in Chicago is highly gang related. Gangs are simply dominant in the swaths of the city that have problems. I dont think it's an overstatement to say that most kids are affiliated with gangs in these areas (based on interviews I've heard with police and school administrators in those areas). As a result, you get grinding day-to-day kids killing other kids for incredibly stupid reasons. I believe the fundamental problem is lack of jobs, encouragement and opportunity in these areas not necessarily a "violent culture". Also, like many American cities (Detroit being the prime example) some of Chicago's problems are rooted in ill-conceived and ill-fated social and housing experiments of the 50s-80s.

Sally Redux

Having gang warzones in their cities doesn't appear to bother Americans, personally I find it horrendous and terribly sad.

AmerLisa

How would you change it, Sally?

scrubbedexpat099

My assumption is that most people bothered about this move. From what I can gather about Chicago it was spread out through political involvement, I do feel sorry for those people caught up in it and who can not get out of Dodge.

Hiro11

I think you're confusing frustration after decades of concentrated effort for apathy.

scrubbedexpat099

Mom opens fire on home invaders in Detroit to defend children - WXYZ.com

Nice little story, Detroit but I am going to assume the locale is similar.

Lion in Winter

And what does this have to do with reducing gun deaths and gun crime?

She's lucky she wasn't shot, as she very likely would have been had anybody competent with a gun been among the burglars. That would have helped her children, wouldn't it.

Pulaski

Nice story indeed, but using a rifle for home defence in an urban setting?

I hope one of the investigating officers gave her a few pointers before she shoots one of her neighbours. .... Or perhaps it was just a .22, but still far from ideal for home defence.

scrubbedexpat099

Well you are unlikely to get that much data from the media.

Hopefully someone will step forward and give her some training.

Generally a pistol would be for when you cannot carry something longer.