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I think the community plays a central role, but so does law enforcement. Make no mistake about it, there's a reason why crime thrives in poor neighborhoods. Dealers and other criminals are allowed to operate within the confines of low-income communities.
Trust me, if the National Guard was ever called in, the violence would come to an immediate halt. Drug dealers are not going to battle with the military, but they will certainly shoot down a convenience store owner, or community organizer who tries to dismantle their turf.
Throughout parts of NYC and NJ, the National Guard was called in immediately after Hurricane Sandy for a reason. This sent a clear message that certain communities were off limits to looting and violence.
FYI, in the communities where they didn't show up--coincidentally, the less-affluent communities--they came out in droves. Only neighbors keeping an eye out and signs posted threatening that looters would be shot (one sign added, "and survivors will be shot again") prevented a lot more theft than happened. I guess some things are the same whether you're in inner-city Chicago or small blue-collar communities on the Jersey bayshore.
The question is, why do the others remain behind? Is it the old "you won't try to escape from a dungeon unless you know you are in one?" Is it lack of hope? These are the things that have to be addressed. Why do some people have the drive to take the risks of change and others do not, and is there anything that can be done to get more to join the former group?
Perhaps, the people who "escape" are not mired in poverty. Also, I'm sure, some of them have family and/or friends who are professionals. Since they have some sort of exposure to another way of life, they know that they can do better, and they strive to do so.
But the fact remains, the ghetto is not just a physical existence, apparently, it's a mental one as well. Many people who reside in the worst parts of Chicago are there, because that's their existence in a nutshell. The better life over the rainbow is simply not part of the paradigm.
He mentioned Chicago in his first speech about the incident.
How nice, an honorary mention.
Just to put this into context, seriously think about how the nation would respond if over 150 white men in Appalachia died due to gun violence within a 3 month period.
I think the community plays a central role, but so does law enforcement. Make no mistake about it, there's a reason why crime thrives in poor neighborhoods. Dealers and other criminals are allowed to operate within the confines of low-income communities.
Yep. And Rahm Emanuel considers Black on Black gun homicides so important that we have this sorry state of affairs:
Quote:
Chicago is in the grips of a deadly gang war. At least 275 people have been killed in the city so far this year and many more have been shot, many of them innocent bystanders to the gang violence. Among the latest victims were 12- and 13-year-old girls shot Tuesday night. They survived.
Sgt. Matt Little leads one of the teams in Chicago's Gang Enforcement Unit. There are about 200 such officers in the city-- versus 100,000 gang members.
The cops are outnumbered 500 to 1. And law-abiding citizens are prohibited from carrying firearms to protect themselves. No wonder Chicago is the deadliest city in the world.
Chicago can make any local law they want, but people can always hop in their car and be in Indiana in about 30 minutes and buy a gun there.
Which is illegal, unless they go through a FFL dealer.....
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, the less-affluent communities--they came out in droves. Only neighbors keeping an eye out and signs posted threatening that looters would be shot (one sign added, "and survivors will be shot again") prevented a lot more theft than happened. I guess some things are the same whether you're in inner-city Chicago or small blue-collar communities on the Jersey bayshore.
