Jordan Leahy's Blog
Not Good. / May 1, 10:10 AM
Mayor Daley’s lost his mind.
Last Sunday the Tribune reported that the mayor of Chicago is supporting the plan given by the new police superintendent to equip ALL CHICAGO COPS WITH SEMIAUTOMATIC RIFLES. The only thing about this that can be seen positively is that it’s in a “very preliminary” stage. Here’s the article.
This is a link to the Wikipedia page on the suggested rifles. Picture an officer on patrol in your town luggin’ one of those bad boys. Scary business.
Why this is NOT good:
Back in November I wrote about how Jesus didn’t/doesn’t approve of violence as a legitimate way to sort out issues. Giving cops huge rifles won’t make gangs less violent. It won’t overpower them. It has way more potential (meaning a number greater than zero) to start a sort of arms-race between cops and gangs and I’m sure will be seen as more of a challenge than a threat. Not good.
Around the time of that writing I was reading a book written by a guy who at one point was in the Latin Kings in Chicago. At one point he recalled a time when he and a higher ranking King met up with an officer to buy guns for their gang. The cop. Sold guns. To. The. Gang. I’m certain this still happens, so giving these weapons to officers only ensures a gangs accessibility to them. Not good.
Proverbs 15:1 – A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (war brings more war, not peace).
Psalm 34:14 – Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it (find positive alternatives to violence).
How this affects me:
There are a lot of cops that come through my neighborhood. The corner near my apartment is a hot spot for drug sales. Because of the demographics of the area, people are skeptical when they see a white kid walking around, assuming that he’s only there to buy drugs and she’s only there to sell herself (and then to maybe buy drugs). Not good.
Because of this skepticism, police have pulled multiple members of my team (including myself) over to “check on them” thinking they’re lost or up to no good. To say I have no interest in interacting with a police officer packing one of these suckers is an understatement to an offensive degree.
I’ve been heckled by gang bangers and police alike. Any of them having these sorts of weapons (well actually, any weapons at all) is again, not good.
I realize that at this point I’ve left out any alternative “solutions” to the issue. I can only think to have a mandatory hug-quota (given AND received) for each day. Maybe we close down weapons plants. But then you lose jobs (but is weapon-making really a legitimate way to receive an income…?).
Any ideas?
I’ve got a starting point.
Jesus Christ, Son of God. Have mercy on me, a sinner.
Peace.
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Wow. Fantastic blog. Ok, first of all, I looked at that article and almost started crying. Can you IMAGINE what it would be like to have one of those suckers pointed at you??
And I think you’re on to something with the mandatory hug quota.
Jesus is our only hope. Really.
By lindsey / May 1, 02:42 PM / #
Yeah. I saw this article and couldn’t believe it either. Uck. Any leads on how we can fight this?
By Andrea / May 7, 06:31 PM / #