Minorities Fired Up in Richmond: 'I'm a Black American and Enjoy My 2A Rights!'

Agree that racist extremist ideologies are a legitimate concern for everyone and thus a reason for all to defend their 2nd rights.

However considering hate crimes in comparison to strong or armed robbery - you have a much greater risk of being a victim of a robbery than a hate crime. Its like 250,000 to 7,000 - roughly 35 to 1.

As such in Chicago crime is still a major contributing factor in the increase in concealed carry permits.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/251914/number-of-robberies-in-the-us-by-weapon/

https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-black-female-gun-owners-chicago-20170831-story.html

SSG Matthew Adkins - the answer to the violence in Chicago is not going to be solved via legislation. Already semiautomatic handguns or rifles with a detachable magazine that hold 10 rounds or more are illegal in Chicago. 80-90% of all Chicago's shootings come from roughly six neighborhoods that make up a very small percentage of Chicago's population - Garfield Park, Austin, Near West Side, Englewood and South Shore and Grand Crossing. I've been studying the issue for a couple of years now and there are number of studies pointing to a cultural problem. AS such until we address the social and cultural norms that underlie the acceptance of gun violence legislation is meaningless.

This is in part due to the diminished influence of institutions that typically have promoted non-violence teachings such as religious and youth organizations. This is a complex problem that is multi threaded with each factor compounding the problem. While many have discarded single parent homes as a contributing factor its been proven that marriage limits material hardship, even in less educated and low-income families.

If more parents were married, remained married and remained in healthy marriages through government initiatives, poverty could be lowered. Typically lower poverty rates reflects in lower rates of violent crimes.

However passing warm and fuzzy gun laws vs slowly building up institutions that help individuals develop the necessary skill set to be successful in life - passing laws is a more immediate result of well intended action. For the naive not really understanding or looking at the root causes this feels and looks like progress.

Hey but be at least we have gun control laws and semi-auto guns aren't allowed in Chicago -

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/1/21/21074986/5-shot-monday-in-chicago-january-5-shooting-roundup-gun-violence-police

SSG Matthew Adkins - Not necessarily directly involved but structuring state and federal aid with incentives in developing important life skills.

I hear you on the religion component - just using it as a place holder for non-governmental organizations that promote a non-violent culture - thinking the likes of MLK who just happened to be a minister.

SSG Matthew Adkins - Totally agree as I see the gun issue as really three separate problems - 1) criminal behavior and mental health (two different problems - 2) depression/suicides and 3) psychotic behavior) I feel we need to address gun ownership first and for most and then drill down into the unique subsets and the issues within the different subsets of gun ownership. The gun violence (criminal behavior) is just the one area that most individuals have some experience mainly through the news however in reality 2/3rd of all homicides by way of a gun the victim stuck the gun in their mouth. That's a discussion that needs to happen along with addressing mass shootings (two subsets public and in schools) as well the criminal use of a firearm - typically urban/gang related violence.

For me living in the Chicago-land area I don't see any meaningful gains in more gun legislation in regards to mitigating criminal behavior - these individuals are murdering people as such not so sure a $500 fine for getting caught with a gun is an effective deterrent - as well I see a larger root problem that needs some massive attention - the opioid epidemic in America.

Not saying we can't address both problems concurrently just saying fixing the issue with drug use might have an impact on the gang/narco violence.