State Representatives John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford along with Willie Williams ((from left), who lost his son to gun violence, call for help in Chicago from the Illinois National Guard during a press conference today at the Thompson Center. (Nancy Stone/ Chicago Tribune)
Two state representatives called on Gov. Pat Quinn to deploy the Illinois National Guard on Chicago's streets to combat violence.
State Reps. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) held a press conference today saying they want Quinn, Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis to work with guardsmen to help get guns and criminals off the streets. Weis has previously said he did not think it was a feasible idea.
I disagree with bringing people not trained in law enforcement and think this is akin to Arizona's response to immigration problem. The headcount of Chicago Police needs to be increased; more efforts to create educate and jobs for young men need to be undertaken with the federal government's assistance. Funding needs to be taken from other areas like two wars, big banks and the politically powerful who have been sucking up increasing share of resources, without any pretense of equity or giving back. At its' heart I think the violence problem is a continued lack of opportunity for young men who have no skills and no opportunities to earn enough to support their families.
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