The politics of gun control

The ballyhoo over the Supreme Court's recent decision that declared Washington DC's handgun ban unconstitutional, and therefore implied the same for Chicago, didn't last through the holiday. Unfortunately, neither did five poor souls who fell victim to gun violence in downtown Chicago during the long weekend.

“Why should our streets be open to someone carrying a gun?” Daley remarked after the Supreme Court handed down the ruling. “Do [people] have a right to carry a gun on the CTA?” Daley's theatric rant blamed the rich and the powerful for protecting themselves but not the  poor. “Those who are rich always feel safe ... those who are in power always feel safe.”

But after the violence this past weekend, Daley must face a stubborn fact: handgun bans don't actually prevent people from committing  violence with hand guns. Handguns are illegal in Chicago, and yet on July 4th, four people were shot by handguns as they walked home from the fireworks display in Grant Park. Moreover, it is entirely likely these hand guns were brought to the fireworks show on CTA transportation. Fitting isn't it.

This is not unusual, in fact. Every day, innocent people in Chicago are killed by hand guns despite the ban. Chicago reported 442 homicides in 2007, according to Wikipedia. And yet, Daley would have us believe the law is keeping the “poor” people safe.

Of course, Daley could step up enforcement. He could put an officer armed with an assault rifle on every corner of the city. But still there would likely be some incidence of illegal gun violence. He simply doesn't have the power to control human behavior, no matter how much prohibition is enforced. Banning anything only drives it under ground.

We certainly should not be irresponsible with guns. But we shouldn't run roughshod over our constitutional rights in support of laws that embolden politicians but don't do much for public safety.

Daley would do better to focus on things that are within his control, like the safety issues on the CTA.