Posted on Nov 3, 2015
With the recent Shooting of Tyshawn Lee, 9, what can be done to quell the Gun Violence in Chicago?
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Gun Control
Violence
Murder
Chicago
Youth
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 24
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Unfortunately - this kind of event in the City has been going on since I was a kid, growing up about 75 miles away from the City. It's not a gun issue, as much as it's a societal norm issue. There are parts of the City that will require generational mentality shifts. Politics aside, it comes down to economics, opportunities and education (I'm sure you can add a few more - but I feel those are the big "3"). Between those three avenues - it would still take at least a generation before you'd see significant results.
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LTC (Join to see)
PO2 Steven Erickson - I'm not sure how well the "untouchable" concept would assist with efforts of changing a generational mentality. The CPD have done numerous "surges" in neighborhoods over at least the last 20 years, arresting senior ranking gang leaders - but that doesn't solve the underlying issues.
Being Civil Affairs - I'd use a Civil Affairs approach and map out the human terrain (which I'm sure the CPD have already done), then identify areas based on support for local government (police include), medium support and low to no support. Then you begin to focus on the medium support areas, hoping to impact the low to no support areas. It's a long term approach with no quick fix (as I already alluded to - we're looking at least a generation before seeing any real significant improvement imo). I believe CPD and the local government as attempted some methods that could be "CA-ish" - but from my research (albeit limited), it's for a better lack of term, half assed. They hold town halls, meetings with locals and leadership of local gangs and discuss issues and concerns - but what's being addressed?
Another key issue is - when we speak of gangs in Chicago, we're not talking about Johnny and 10 of his pals who beat up kids from other neighborhoods. We're talking about credible, legitimate criminal organizations - whose networks extend national and internationally. They have drugs being piped in, cash being piped out - much like the mafia. What are the feds doing to cut off the supply at the end of that logistical snake?
It's a complex problem that I'd love to be involved with and attempt to solve - but unfortunately, being an active duty Army officer - my CA efforts are focused elsewhere.
Being Civil Affairs - I'd use a Civil Affairs approach and map out the human terrain (which I'm sure the CPD have already done), then identify areas based on support for local government (police include), medium support and low to no support. Then you begin to focus on the medium support areas, hoping to impact the low to no support areas. It's a long term approach with no quick fix (as I already alluded to - we're looking at least a generation before seeing any real significant improvement imo). I believe CPD and the local government as attempted some methods that could be "CA-ish" - but from my research (albeit limited), it's for a better lack of term, half assed. They hold town halls, meetings with locals and leadership of local gangs and discuss issues and concerns - but what's being addressed?
Another key issue is - when we speak of gangs in Chicago, we're not talking about Johnny and 10 of his pals who beat up kids from other neighborhoods. We're talking about credible, legitimate criminal organizations - whose networks extend national and internationally. They have drugs being piped in, cash being piped out - much like the mafia. What are the feds doing to cut off the supply at the end of that logistical snake?
It's a complex problem that I'd love to be involved with and attempt to solve - but unfortunately, being an active duty Army officer - my CA efforts are focused elsewhere.
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PO2 Steven Erickson
LTC (Join to see), I guess I'm a little more focused on the Here and Now. I think your points on education, economic and social changes are dead-on. My thought process is two-fold. First, cut out the tumor and Second, simultaneously treat the patient for recovery.
Your point on the current gangs being mafia-like is exactly my point. In the 30's, the FBI had a multi-prong approach... one "soft glove" approach focused on the users... one "legality" approach focused on the money... one "brutal" approach focused on the supplier and dealers.
I know that sounds suspiciously like the failed "War On Drugs" but this would be police action (albeit tactical and "direct action" oriented) inside our own cities. I do have concerns about restraint and due process, but I still can't get my brain past the "You point a firearm at a cop, your due process is waived..."
I guess I'm jaded enough by the constant death-toll numbers to truly believe that this has gone PAST law enforcement and investigation and into direct interdiction.
I also admit it's easy for me to advocate "extreme prejudice" law enforcement, when I'm sitting comfy in my home. I'm just so very tired of seeing our LEOs fight a losing battle, trying to follow civilian rules, when the adversaries have no rules, and ALL persons are targets.
Your point on the current gangs being mafia-like is exactly my point. In the 30's, the FBI had a multi-prong approach... one "soft glove" approach focused on the users... one "legality" approach focused on the money... one "brutal" approach focused on the supplier and dealers.
I know that sounds suspiciously like the failed "War On Drugs" but this would be police action (albeit tactical and "direct action" oriented) inside our own cities. I do have concerns about restraint and due process, but I still can't get my brain past the "You point a firearm at a cop, your due process is waived..."
I guess I'm jaded enough by the constant death-toll numbers to truly believe that this has gone PAST law enforcement and investigation and into direct interdiction.
I also admit it's easy for me to advocate "extreme prejudice" law enforcement, when I'm sitting comfy in my home. I'm just so very tired of seeing our LEOs fight a losing battle, trying to follow civilian rules, when the adversaries have no rules, and ALL persons are targets.
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LTC (Join to see)
PO2 Steven Erickson - I hear what you're saying and I can't disagree. I think there's a balanced approach, with aspects of your approach and mine - that would probably be best suited for areas in which we're discussing.
Either way, something needs to be done in the major cities (not just Chicago) and it needs to be addressed sooner than later. Whether that's a coalition of large city Mayors/city councils and their staffs - to see if some of the issues are similar and can be address (assuming one city has success in a specific area) or for them to brainstorm and come up with new concepts to approach the violence within their cities. I am adamant however, about keeping federal government out of the midst as much as possible (it's not completely doable - as feds need to be involved to cut off the illegal flow of drugs and such) and let the local governments handle it as best as they can....before federal government steps in.
It's a tough situation for any policy maker to be in - but whatever the case is in these cities, politics needs to take a backseat and issues need to be dealt with through bi-partisan means.
Either way, something needs to be done in the major cities (not just Chicago) and it needs to be addressed sooner than later. Whether that's a coalition of large city Mayors/city councils and their staffs - to see if some of the issues are similar and can be address (assuming one city has success in a specific area) or for them to brainstorm and come up with new concepts to approach the violence within their cities. I am adamant however, about keeping federal government out of the midst as much as possible (it's not completely doable - as feds need to be involved to cut off the illegal flow of drugs and such) and let the local governments handle it as best as they can....before federal government steps in.
It's a tough situation for any policy maker to be in - but whatever the case is in these cities, politics needs to take a backseat and issues need to be dealt with through bi-partisan means.
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I grew up in a predominantly black city - Baltimore. To be honest, I envied the black families that surrounded me. Coming from a dysfunctional family with an abusive father, I envied the solidarity of black families. Fathers who earned a living even if opportunities were suppressed by bigotry. Mothers who ruled the roost with love and an iron hand. I even envied their worship services. I well-remember sipping on a root-beer float at an A&W that sat next to a Baptist Church listening to the gospel and singing through the open windows. I wanted to go inside and join in the joy of it but my father would have stripped my hide. Thus I was relegated to a typical white form of worship singing stodgy hymns and listening to ponderous lectures about the wages of sin. So, what the hell happened to those black families I envied? Why are their children shooting each other? Why are there so many unwed moms caring for large broods of undisciplined children? We know the answer, don't we? I don't need to repeat it here. The important thing to add to this discussion is that we need to rebuild those families only this time without bigotry stifling opportunity. Sadly, that won't happen as long as the slave masters remain at the helm...
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Capt Seid Waddell
Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed
In Please Stop Helping Us, Jason Riley examines how well-intentioned welfare programs are in fact holding black Americans back. Minimum-wage laws may lift ea...
CPT Jack Durish, SPC Andrew Griffin, Jason Riley goes into that in detail, and I think he has nailed it.
The talk starts at 5:25 time hack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9wWF1_YFBA
The talk starts at 5:25 time hack
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9wWF1_YFBA
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One thing being over looked is that the larger portion of Chicago is safe. If Emanuel was serious in quelling the violence he would shift resources to the South Side where the gangs and majority of the murders/killings are. Ignore the political backlash.
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