Gov offers to send state troopers and National Guard copters to fight gang violence

[WhiteFeather]

Someone should suggest this idea for Philly. -NOT

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politic...uns17.article#

Gov. says Chicago 'out of control'

Gov offers to send state troopers and National Guard copters to fight gang violence

Calling violence in Chicago "out of control," Gov. Blagojevich on Wednesday offered to lend state troopers and National Guard helicopters to the city to augment the Chicago Police.

The governor is considering forming an "elite tactical team" to help the Chicago Police fight gang problems, a source said, adding that the unit could later be sent across the state to deal with gang problems at any city's request.

Gov. Blagojevich has offered to "loan" state troopers and National Guard equipment to the city to augment the work of Chicago Police officers. The image of state troopers and National Guard helicopters patrolling the streets of Chicago is certain to embarrass Mayor Daley.


"It's fair to say that violent crime in Chicago is out of control. In certain communities in the city of Chicago, it is reaching epidemic proportions," Blagojevich told reporters at a bill-signing ceremony in Chicago.

The governor noted 16 children -- "almost one child a day" -- have been gunned down in Chicago since June 26. The shooting death toll for Chicago Public School students stands at 29 since last fall.

"Twenty-eight of those kids are African-American and Latino. Hard to imagine that that would be acceptable if that were, in fact, the case in other parts of the city or in a middle-class suburb somewhere. . . . Something is wrong, and this violence has to stop," he said.

The governor's surprise offer also comes at a time when his $34 billion state construction program is in a deep freeze, largely because Mayor Daley is unwilling to go along with a Chicago casino to finance it. Daley is aligned with state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) against a massive gambling expansion.

The image -- or even the possibility -- of state troopers and National Guard helicopters patrolling Chicago is certain to embarrass Daley at a time when the city is one of four finalists to host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Still, City Hall did not automatically reject the governor's sketchy offer.

"Obviously, we welcome partnerships with the state -- not just on this issue, but on a variety of issues. In the same vein, the mayor earlier this season reached out to the governor to try and craft a partnership to try and occupy young people during the summer with jobs," mayoral press secretary Jacquelyn Heard said, noting that the city has yet to receive that summer jobs funding.

"It is, at the very least, a little disconcerting that we're only hearing about this as the media does," she said.

Cooperation between Chicago and State Police would not be unprecedented. In 1999, the agencies joined forces on holiday traffic patrols and roadside safety checks on the Chicago Skyway and Lake Shore Drive. Both roadways are normally the exclusive purview of Chicago Police. They have continued to work together on roadside checks and other operations in the city.

"The CPD is a great friend of the State Police and does a great job helping us," a State Police source said. "We have a great deal of respect for them. Our working relationship has always been good. I think this will work out just fine."

But Madigan's spokesman, Steve Brown, said the governor's motives are political. Even as he offered state help, Blagojevich urged the mayor to "get off the sidelines" and help him pass the stalled capital bill.

"My guess is the governor may be smarting because the mayor was quoted publicly as saying he tried to convince [Blagojevich] to have a more common-sense approach to the capital plan, and that advice was ignored," Brown said.

Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero fired back that the governor's plan is not a stunt.

"Making sure that kids aren't shot and guns aren't in the hands of bad guys is far from political," he said.

Chicago's "no questions asked" gun back program, its funny they won't prosecute people that turns these gun in for cash, yet honest citizens that have a firearm that is not registered get prosecuted, figure that one out.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politic...uns17.article#

Daley's $1 mil. push to buy back guns misfires
LOW TURNOUT | Program useless because weapons don't work: critic

Mayor Daley wants to raise $1 million to buy back guns and remove them from Chicago streets, but the latest in a string of corporate fund-raisers got off to a slow start.

Sources said former Board of Education President Michael Scott was asked to co-sign a wave of fund-raising letters and make fund-raising phone calls after the initial response was lukewarm from a business community that's also being called upon to bankroll Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid.


Scott's calls reportedly picked up the pace of donations that will be used to give cash bounties to those who turn in guns and finance other anti-violence programs.

Daley insisted that he was not disappointed at the turnout for Tuesday's breakfast meeting at the Union League Club to kick off the effort spearheaded by Scott and Chicago's former chief financial officer, Dana Levenson.

"I know you sent someone over there to spy on everybody -- like the Sun-Times is gonna [have] a big exclusive [saying], 'Where are all the CEOs?' But, we raised quite a bit of money," said Daley, who asked the Sun-Times and Tribune to donate $100,000 apiece.

Last year, a similar gun buy-back program bankrolled by corporate donors took 6,069 guns off Chicago streets.

Those who turned in firearms got $100 pre-paid debit cards. Those who handed in 650 replica, air and BB guns got cards valued at $10.

Scott acknowledged that initial fund-raising for the gun turn-in program was slow, but said, "Any money we raise would be more than we had. . . . Whatever the results are, the mayor wants to continue to press the business community and the media to get more involved in this problem we all face."

The value of gun buy-back programs came under question this week at a City Council hearing.

Dr. Carl Bell, president and CEO of the Community Mental Health Council and Foundation Inc., argued that turn-in programs don't reduce gun violence because "the guns they buy back don't work in the first damn place."

Here is related story on selective enforcement of Chicago gun laws with Governments no 1 rule, do I say, not as I do..
http://www.pafoa.org/forum/general-2...-his-guns.html (Anti Gun Chicago Politician wants exemption for his guns)

[Falcon118]

What a surprise... a gun buy back program that doesnt work. I'm not sure about any one else.. but this shure shocks me...

[reels18]

Sending in the Guard is a useless gesture unless they are allowed to use deadly force.

When the Guard eventually leaves, the criminals will still be there, but feeling empowered because the military couldn't cure the problem.

Politically correct gestures are useless. You either fight fire with fire or you pretend things are not that bad.

I will give you three guess which strategy will be used.

[Philadelphia]

Originally Posted by reels18

Sending in the Guard is a useless gesture unless they are allowed to use deadly force.

The rules of engagement would allow the use of deadly force to prevent their own death or death of another, same as you. If they are ordered in unarmed, they would be sending many to their deaths.

[mikepro8]

They arent children... they are gang members. They make a conscious decision to rob, burgle, rape, steal, assault, etc. etc. etc.

[edstephan]

I think Daily needs some more gun laws to make Chicago safer. Oh that's right firearms ARE BANNED in Chicago. I guess gun control really works ask Daily, Thats why they need the State Police and National Guard
Ed

[ccphilly1984]

god bless pennsylvania. that's all i can say... i'm so glad that criminals in this state can actually fear accidetly trying to victimise one of us.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by mikepro8

They arent children... they are gang members. They make a conscious decision to rob, burgle, rape, steal, assault, etc. etc. etc.

exactly. 16 year old gang bangers are not "children".

burgle, eh? neat word.

[andrewjs18]

Originally Posted by WhiteFeather

[color="Blue"]"Twenty-eight of those kids are African-American and Latino. Hard to imagine that that would be acceptable if that were, in fact, the case in other parts of the city or in a middle-class suburb somewhere. . . . Something is wrong, and this violence has to stop," he said.

tell them to stop killing each other. =) I guess he's trying to say that because they're black and latino, the government isn't doing anything..just like hurricane Katrina.

[PPM209]

Originally Posted by reels18

Sending in the Guard is a useless gesture unless they are allowed to use deadly force.

When the Guard eventually leaves, the criminals will still be there, but feeling empowered because the military couldn't cure the problem.

amen! Ignore the root problem - attempt the treat the symptoms. Be shocked when it doesn't work. That's the liberal way when it comes to inner-city violence...