In my quest to discern what is wisest and best, I stumbled upon a bit of a case study surrounding the “Windy City.” Love that town! As a young adult, many a day did we stroll the streets along Lake Michigan, somehow even embracing the cold, enjoying the sights, and taking advantage of Chicago’s innumerable offerings. Chicago, so-to-speak, has always been ‘my kind of town.’
With the recent response to the shocking Sandy Hook shootings — and how that tragedy, for some, has created cause to ratchet up the gun control debate — I have perceived that far too many of us are unaware about the situation in Chicago. Now allow me to first share that I have no engrained partisan stance in the gun control conversation. I have no sword in this fight. I am neither an NRA card carrying member nor an anti-gun advocate. My what-I-believe-to-be common sense approach is that the Constitution allows for guns, and they should be responsibly utilized. Hence, I seek to discern what is wisest and best. That search leads me to Chicago, as society discusses prudent approaches to gun control.
Violent crime in Chicago — how should I say this respectfully — is awful. Let’s be clear; that’s the Intramuralist’s opinion. Allow me to now share the facts.
According to the New York Times, the total number of illegal incidents in Chicago decreased by 9% in 2012. However, the murder rate rose 15%. After 513 homicides in 2012, New Years Day 2013 was rung in with 3 more.* Among “alpha” cities (municipalities considered significant in the global economic system), Chicago has the highest murder rate — more than double that of New York City and Los Angeles — also higher than Mexico City and Sao Paolo.
A potential knee jerk response could be a cry for increased gun control. The irony is that Chicago already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country.
Friends, I would encourage you not to overreact on either side of this debate. I would encourage you to refrain from adopting any engrained partisan stance; this is not a partisan issue. The presentation of the facts above does not clearly communicate that gun control is unnecessary; but it also shows that increased gun control is not necessarily effective. What the facts say to me — and again, in our pursuit of what is wisest and best — is that something else must be in play here; some other factor(s) is influencing crime in our country. Do we honestly believe that if we remove all guns, then we would remove all violent crime? That there would be no other way for the sick, perverse, or even evil mind to hurt innocent others? That sticks and stones would somehow no longer be able to break our bones?
And so I ask, similar to my initial response in the days immediately following the seemingly unthinkable in Connecticut, what else is in play? What else is a factor in why violent crime is far too prevalent in this country? Could it be…
… the lack of complete care for the mentally ill?
… the muted attention and compassion for the mentally ill?
… the reasons for mental illness?
… the breakdown of the American family?
… the digression of societal values where sometimes “anything goes”?
… the ambiguity of absolutes in regard to what is right and wrong?
… the dilution of giving credit to the divine?
… the temptation to rely more on self and do away with the divine?
What else? What else is in play?
Are we courageous enough as a country to acknowledge that this might be something more? … that this might be something that increased legislation may be incapable of fixing? … that simply more or less gun control might not make a difference? … that we are actually talking about the wrong thing?
As seen, perhaps, in Chicago?
Maybe even in our kind of town.
Respectfully,
AR
* Note that the Chicago P.D. reported only 506 homicides in 2012; however, they base their statistics on the day the victim died, as opposed to the day the incident occurred.