'Tragic number': Chicago reaches 500 homicides
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy says the city has logged its 500th homicide of the year.
McCarthy issued a statement Friday calling the milestone a "tragic number that is reflective of the gang violence and proliferation of illegal guns that have plagued some of our neighborhoods."
The police department went back and forth Friday, first verifying the 500th killing, then backing off and saying an earlier death was still being investigated.
By late Friday, police confirmed 40-year-old Nathaniel Jackson had become the 500th homicide victim when he was fatally shot in the head outside a convenience store on the city's West Side.
The last time Chicago reached the 500-homicide mark was in 2008, when the year ended with 512 killings. City records show Chicago had 435 homicides last year.
McCarthy issued a statement Friday calling the milestone a "tragic number that is reflective of the gang violence and proliferation of illegal guns that have plagued some of our neighborhoods."
The police department went back and forth Friday, first verifying the 500th killing, then backing off and saying an earlier death was still being investigated.
By late Friday, police confirmed 40-year-old Nathaniel Jackson had become the 500th homicide victim when he was fatally shot in the head outside a convenience store on the city's West Side.
The last time Chicago reached the 500-homicide mark was in 2008, when the year ended with 512 killings. City records show Chicago had 435 homicides last year.
Who's the Mayor there? Â what kind of leadership and direction to the police is he giving? Â
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It's a perfect example of what happens, when over time, taxpayers allow political correctness to eliminate or reduce gang-enforcement. Â Gangs have no "rights" to exist and the full brunt of the law including federal should be brought down on them. Â Pierce County does this.
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Seattle is fast becoming Oakland, California with its tolerance. Â In another 7-years, it will be this Chicago. Â why? Â Why do people, good people, allow gangs to move about and intimidate freely - and finally killing people before they say, gee - do you think they will hurt us next?
Last count 114 Gangs with a combined membership of over 100,000. This is not about gun laws. These folks don't obey the law.
Chicago needs tough gun laws...oh wait... how about gun free zones.... oh wait... maybe they should prosecute people who defend themselves... oh wait...
Sounds like Chicago needs tougher gun laws. NOT!
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When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
 @James127 When guns are outlawed, rednecks will have to find something else to whine about.
 @cyclops
maybe we could all come over to your place for your annually kumbaya festival.. that's what flaming Left-Wieners like yourself do right.. Us rednecks live like men, so I'm just assuming..
 @bearzookaÂ
nope don't see any tyranny here..
 @bearzooka
goes further than that if you support the constitution your a terrorist now days..
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The following are characteristics that qualifies a person as a potential domestic terrorist:
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 Expressions of libertarian philosophies (statements, bumper stickers)Â
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Second Amendment-oriented views (NRA or gun club membership, holding a CCW permit)Â
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Survivalist literature (fictional books such as "Patriots" and "One Second After" are mentioned by name)Â
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Self-sufficiency (stockpiling food, ammo, hand tools, medical supplies)Â
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Fear of economic collapse (buying gold and barter items)
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Religious views concerning the book of Revelation (apocalypse, anti-Christ)
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Expressed fears of Big Brother or big governmentÂ
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HomeschoolingÂ
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Declarations of Constitutional rights and civil libertiesÂ
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Belief in a New World Order conspiracy
 @cyclopsÂ
does this mean I'm not invited..if i am, can i bring my kids the horror of it all should be very educational.. it would just reenforce why not to be a left weiner.......
 @cyclops  @vadersith Does your handgun have a removable clip? Does it have the ability to hold more than 10 rounds per magazine? If so, you own an "assault weapon" according to the terms outlined by the US government
 @vadersith I'll bet you also drive a huge truck for even further compensation.  Sucks to be tiny.
 @cyclopsÂ
Does this mean I'm not invited to your kumbaya party ?? where's that change the world tolerant left-wiener attitude at..
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you can't even be original.. your like a parrot you see you say.. can you say liberal media parrot ,Cyclops wants a cracker..
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 @vadersith Lol.  I have a handgun at my home for protection.  One...Only one.  I don't need ten guns or an assault weapon.  I do not try to prove my manhood by maintaining a stash of weapons.  Everyone should be allowed 1 handgun.  Severe penalties should be in place for anyone caught with an unregistered firearm as well as any crime committed with one registered or not.  So no, not left wing at all just tired of Tiny-Wieners trying to make up for lack of size in other areas.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Chicago#Homicides_in_Chicago_1990-2012
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It is interesting to look at these numbers as a whole. 500 is still a relatively 'low' number versus the norm over the last 20 years. Just more media fear mongering.
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 @bearzooka Thank you for sharing that fact.  You are very correct about terming this media fear mongering.  Well done.
HOW can this be possible? Chicago has some of the most STRINGENT gun control policies in the country!!! Oh yea......that's right, they disarmed the GOOD GUYS, and lookie lookie at what the result is. Surprised?
 @WolfenÂ
don't forget it's the liberal model of society.. looks to be working well their.. NOT
 @Wolfen Gangsters killing gangsters has nothing to do with the good guys.
@cyclops @Wolfen Not a single gun control law would impact it either since only the good guys obey the law.
 @Wolfen I tend to argue along the same line, Washington DC being even worse, but there is a little bit of a chicken and egg problem. Was the violence the reason why they tightened the laws, or was the violence a consequence? One needs to look at long term effects before this can be answered.
@Komo Dragon @Wolfen The gun control really started in the early 80's and was more reflective of the change in approach where criminals were no longer being held accountable but every effort was being made to find the outside cause for the behavior. It was easy to blame a gun and let the criminal off the hook so people didn't have to be evil, it wasn't their fault. I am sure the gun bans were put in place in repsonse to the crime but it wasn't a rational or effective response. Rather than crack down hard on criminals and address the real issues it was much easier and also made better headlines to ban guns. This "show" of caring and taking action is nothing but a show. It never works but is a great soundbite and pacifies people quickly who demand action. When it doesn't work they only response is "we didn't ban enough" instead of the reality that bans don't work.