Today on CNN Newsroom
Chicago Violence: Is the National Guard the Solution?
A violent crime wave in Chicago prompts a call for the National Guard to step in. Two Illinois lawmakers, State Reprepresentatives John Fritchey (D) and LaShawn Ford (D), are urging Governor Pat Quinn to deploy troops following a recent surge in violent crime. "We're not talking about rolling tanks down the street," said Fritchey. "If we bring them in to fill sand bags and pick up tornado debris, we can bring them in to save lives."
While they may believe the Guard is the solution, Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis disagrees. Weis says the Guard's military training falls short of the criminal laws and procedures that police must follow in combating crime. “I’m not that mixing the National Guard with local law enforcement is the solution," Weis said.
We want to hear from you. Tell us whether you think the National Guard should be called in to help combat the city’s recent crime wave.
Leave us a comment. We’ll share some of them on air in the CNN Newsroom, 11am – 1pm ET
I think that reporting violence and death is better news that featuring the stories on how we save lives. For instance, there have been more people at the local level that have issued press releases supporting the creation of summer green jobs through community gardens, taking people away from the illegal street economies, bjt that has not received nearly as much coverage as each Chicago shooting OR two lawmakers saying call in the National Guard. What about the eco nomic solutions versus battlelines of armed street people and more law enforcement.
NO AMOUNT of new law enforcement can compete with the desperate economic conditions that continually draw good people into bad situations trying to make ends meet.
Yes I do agree the National Guard should come in and help. The city does not have enough police to get the job done. Something has to be done to stop the gangs.
This is simple... Use the Guard to augment into the "non-violent" areas of the city, freeing up police to combat in the violent areas... This is already done in places like New York and during natural disasters. This is no different. Im sure the public will feel more secure seeing fatigues and combat boots standing guard at the L station vs a chubby guy in blue.
I think whatever seems necessary to quell t he violence then we have to respond. It doesn't seem like the local law enforcement is capable of handling the problem so let he guard come in and set up road blocks and check points and go after who they know is causing the problems or when they find problems let the guard handle it w/their armory. Whatever quells the violence. LOOK AT Mexico .... I know we aren't in the same predicament but it is very similar w/all the violence and murders. Atleast maybe the commissioner can use the guardsman how he sees fit... atleast he could bring them in and see where they would be most helpful and do it that way so he isn't just saying no to the help that is being offered.
I think if its truly needed at this point then yes but I do not feel its the solution. Crime comes from need. if people have to kill for food, Money & Clothing then many will when kids grow up in a place where there is no good education and there only role models are the ones already in the circle of violence then all these kids hear is this is the only way this is your only choice. THE SOLUTION is more choices for a good productive life and not violence.
The national guard is exactly what Chicago needs but the federal government dont want to solve Chicago's crime problem the only way to fix the crime is to follow Arizona's lead and take the bull by the horns independent from the fed's .
I can only imagine the fine job the guard would do...that is with all that law enforcement trianing, and the warm fuzzy feelings the military has with the law abiding populace.... I mean just remember the fine job they did working side by side with the police at the 68 democratic convention..are'nt we already sliding toward a "police state" fast enough. without putting troops on the street......?
I'd like to take a stab at this issue, and would first off like to precede by stating that I am a New Yorker, currently serving in the US Navy out of Washington, DC.
I would vote "Hell YA" on calling in the Guard, since its quite obvious that the CPD is incapable of handling the situation, and the politicians, as usual, are playing CYA (Cover Your Ass) by declining to allow the citizens of Chicago their basic right to safety.
I could also place some blame on the Chicago voters for keeping Mayor Daley in office for wayy too long; have they not realized that he's so corrupted?
Ever since the complete gun ban in Chicago, the honest citizens have been disarmed and left the guns to the gangs and druggies. Have they not realized that taking guns away from law abiding citizens renders them exposed and vulnerable to any gun-toting criminal that gets their guns regardless of any gun control laws.
I understand that CNN is a liberal media outlet, but how long will they keep covering up the wrongdoings of liberal corrupt politicians, especially after the murder of so many people?
I say that every day Mayor Dailey and/or Governor Quinn don't do anything substantial regarding the criminal situation in Chicago, they have the victim's blood on their hand!
As a three tour Iraq veteran, I think that troops now are able and willing to help out there country. We get cross trained in many different fields and have years of experience on how to keep the peace. I think if we can go overseas and make a change for the better with cultural boundaries. I think that we could make a real change for Chicago. For those who think that we will go in and shoot up the place have no real seance of what today's military is capable of.
This is the National Guard's purpose, to assist the state in times need. If the Chicago police force isn't doing the job, bring in the state's Military Police. No, MP's don't have the same training as civilian police, but they are trained to complete the mission. Turning to the National Guard is the most logical and most reliable decision to buy the Chicago police force to regroup and send a message to outlaws in the city.
But I thought Chicago's strict gun laws made the city a land flowing with milk and honey, has something changed?
I've got a better idea for Chicago politicians, break your promises and raise taxes on everyone, hire and train more police officers, and enforce your gun laws instead of passing more strict ones to give the illusion that your doing something about it. Public officials still continue to disappoint everyone, please remove them in November.
Good morning, Tony! I like your tie.
Crime in Chicago and job lines in NYC represent a litmus test for the desperation across our country. President Obama can ask ONE question of our Congress and facilitate a solution with effects across the board: "Congress, how long would it take to lift the federal ban on cannabis and its derivatives?"
It's already a non-lethal multi-billion dollar industry, so jobs would be created, tax revenue generated, law enforcement strain would be lessened, and civil rights restored. Our children would be protected through strict regulation and a newly-legitimized, Earth-friendly industry would be brought out of the shadows. WIN-WIN!
dear tony
yes i think we need them here, im pregnant and scared!
send some protection to us we really need it!
its only getting worse every summer when the heat comes and this is only spring!
and the area need some help with a hard hand soon
send them in!
Is this going to lead to Martial Law?
Thank God they are sending in the troops, add the troops to Homewood Pa out side Pittsburgh as well where violence has exploded and drug dealing has become super easy there!
Thanks Tony
National Guardsman should not be used to keep the law as long as low life thugs on the street have so many "rights". The only ones getting in trouble would be the guardsman.
As easily as the two apache pilots confused the Reuters TV crew with insurgents in Iraq, the national guard could confuse and innocent citizen with someone who has more violent intentions. If the national guard were to help with violence in Chicago they would need to be equipped with more civil weaponry, such as tasers, zip-cuffs, and hand guns instead of automatic weapons.
I think the city and the city police should so there job. It's really crazy to see a city that spends millions on roads & Hwys, but can take care of there children. Do your job!!!
Everyone in Chicago know how bad it is...it is really scary when you let your kids out to play and you dont know if they will come back alive. Its about time someone is doing something
If our Military is good for other people's/countries' streets, they surely are good for ours!! We have to have faith that they execute their duties with honor as we expect them where ever they are. There is an obvious problem in Chicago, National Guard can help.
Wow...the best topic of the day! My opinion is that the National Guard SHOULD HAVE BEEN called to Chicago a year ago with the death toll of our youth raising up to 500. We need our troops here at home helping us with the increase of crime in the USA.
Tony, while I sympathize with Chicago lawmakers, it's not a very good idea to bring in the military to solve the crime problems of Chicago. Not only does it set a very dangerous precedent, but the National Guard are filled with young soldiers who aren't trained to deal with civilians the way that police officers are trained.
Whenever you involve the military to act as law enforcement, you create an unpredictable situation that has the potential to create an even bigger mess. The military often takes a "take no prisoners" approach and it would a huge nightmare for the US Armed Services if the military was brought in and they opened fire on Chicago residents because of an impatient or nervous soldier.
Marshall Law is on it's way. The new world order is on it's way.
I listened to Rep. Fritchey on the News this morning. What he's saying is that the National Guard would be working in conjuction with the Chicago Police Dept. to ensure the safety of the communities. I think this is an excellent idea. Especially if it means saving lives.
This shouldn't be a power struggle about who calls the shots, or who's guns are bigger, it should be about keeping the peace and making a clear statement to the law breakers that don't have any regard for human life.
Crime is getting out of hand everywhere. If it takes the National Guard to help control it, let's do it. Not just in areas of disasters but everywhere. It's sad to say, but it might take a police-state to keep the law abiding citizens safe. Never thought our country would get to this condition. Crime is rampant due to too many criminal rights, it's time we fix it as we are all suffering the consequences of so much crime.
There have always been problems on the south side. The national guard will not change a thing in Chicago. The problem is within the community, and the problem will not be solved until the residents band together and refuse to be bullied by the lawbreakers.
I think that the National Guard should be called in.Jody Weis should be ashamed of himself for the scare tactic he is trying to use.We all need to understand that if we can do anything at all to deter any kind of violence,even if it is just one live we save, it would be worth it.
i am all for the use of national guard soldiers to assist the Chicago police department in help to restore order in their city. This one of the many duties for which the national guard was established. I feel with proper training and guidance the soldier will do extremely well. We must be able to protect our innocent civilians from all enemies both foriegn and domestic. The individuals committing these crimes and waves of violence must know that their actions will not be tolerated and they should be brought to justice. Restoring order and safety in the neighborhoods of Chicago must be done by all means available.
Crime in Chicago will not be solved by the National Guard.Though segragation ended decades ago Chicago remains very segragated.Fight poverty ,fight racism this will definetely reduce crime in Chicago.Concerned but afraid.
The level of violence should discern whether the National Guard should be deployed. If the police and the National Guard haven't defined those limits and parameters of responsibility they should get their collective derrieres in gear and get it done now and stop complaining.
Tony, live on the southside of Chicago and i have four kids I'm unable to even walk to the park with them.I have to drive to a different areas for my kids can play. So i welcome the National Guard lets see if these TUGGS shoot at them.
I believe that the national guard or even the marines and the army should go int chicago and clean house. If the parents of these gang kids cant fix the problem then we should fix the problem. I think that if chicago was in some other country and americans were getting killed then we would go fight the people killing the americans. I truely believe that we should treat the gangs like the taliban and destroy them before they destroy the future of our cities and our country. Before too long we may end up like mexico fighting to see who controls the United States, the gangs or us.
Lets see... Chicago has a gun ban in place if Im not mistaken. This proves the motto "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns". Now, those who DONT want guns in the hands of citizens suddenly want the national guard to come in and restore peace. These same national guards... CARRY GUNS!!! Hello!!! Am I the only 1 that see's the falicy of these gun laws???
I am looking back on many of these comments wondering what a lot of you are thinking saying that these are "young nervous soldiers" that might "open fire on Chicago residents." I am an MP in the New Jersey National Guard. To say that soldiers to be stationed in a city are too nervous and impatient for the job is ridiculous. These soldiers are trained to patrol any city. Let it be Baghdad, Kabol, or Chicago, every United States soldier is thoroughly trained in weapon safety and to only fire their weapon or side arm when a life is in extreme peril. Firing a round is a last resort action. Every soldier knows this. If you think residence safety is in jeopardy with the National Guard stationed in Chicago, you're ideas about your own military need to be examined. You're watching too many Hollywood movies.
Yes Vocal Citizen! Let us stop the prohibition on marijuana – it did not work on alcohol and is did not working now.. Repeal of marijuana laws will stop a lot of crime and produce income. You can not prohibit guns, alcohol, or marijuana, things that have been used for hundreds of years before we started trying to govern every small thing in private lives of people. Let everyone have a gun like in Switzerland where every house has a gun and every male serves in the military and there is no real crime. Chicago can not expect to keep the good citizens helpless and have armed criminals if they want lower crime. -Side note the US and Switzerland were not invaded since the Germans and Russians knew both were armed.
This is the National Guard's purpose, to assist the state in times need. If the Chicago police force isn't doing the job, bring in the state's Military Police. No, MP's don't have the same training as civilian police, but they are trained to complete the mission. Turning to the National Guard is the most logical and most reliable decision to buy the Chicago police force time to regroup while sending a message to outlaws in the city.
This is what happens when you have the strictest gun control in the country.... you need to bring in people with guns to keep people safe. Though I must admit, a surge worked in Iraq, and the surge worked in Afghanistan, next a surge in Illinois. and while we're at it, we can replace the Illinois government with a less corrupt one. A government that is less tyrannical, and more apt to helping it's people. 4 of the last 8 governors agree that orange jumpsuits are quite slimming. It'll be like adding Illinois to the axis of evil... And if it works, Detroit might be next!
As an Illinois Guardsmen recently returned from Afghanistan, I would support this idea. I would like Chicago to be as safe as Kabul. Less gunfire at night over there. Part of our training included searching vehicles and buildings, detaining suspects, and working with local people to gather information.
The guard has changed a lot in the past 45 years, and I'm shocked to hear someone saying it was a bad idea to use the guard because of what happened in the '60s. Why not bring up the riots in New York to protest that warmonger Abraham Lincoln for starting an unwanted war?
Something needs to be done. I know at least one former EMT who had to illegally carry a firearm because gangs would rob an ambulance to get the drugs! Bottom line is that gang bangers get an illigal gun, they know all of their victems will be unarmed. But they wet their pants when someone pulls one out. Either we need 10 times the law enforcement, marshal law, or like other states have reasonable gun control so these pansy little wannabe tough gang bangers will start seeing potential threats, not an easy score. When other states have their law enforcement saying "arm yourselves for your own safety," Illinois is the only one saying "nobody is aloud to have guns. that way when you get shot in your own home, we'll know it was someone with an illegal gun."
The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 18, 1878
The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress.
What is happening to our country?
Clear violation of Posse Comitatus Act. You people have no idea that want the national guard. They aren't trained for police work, they are trained to kill. I guess you liberals learned nothing from WTO 99 where peaceful protesters got tear gassed and beaten by our high school dropouts, err National Guard. Chicago is a slave city where they are disarmed. The 2nd Amendment, protecting Americans since 1776
Mayor Daley should be embarrassed!
Marc Sims
Chicago
How about we just give the police more support? Involving the military would make things complicated
the murder and crime rate in chicago is a national disgrace. we need help to control the violence. with summer coming, it will only get worse.
It is already being done in Puerto Rico... Homicide rate surpassing 270 this year alone. National Guardsman has already shot and kill a dangerous felon shooting at them.
Of course...city of Chicago needs help...we've helped other country now when the time calls to help our own citys we are now all the sudden scared of our own troop...the only people who should be scared are thous who do bad things. I'd say bring the National Guard!
I think that all American Politicians have a terrible habit of providing quick fixes to very deep rooted problems. We can no longer though money or troops or at issues that require a more cerebral remedy. Education is the only answer there is a dichotomy between the school systems in different demographics in the US. and the poor are too busy to be rational or interesting. They are desperate and desperate people to desperate things!!
Dont hate Educate!!!
Yes. The National Guard will help deter violence and also prevent some of the unfortunate things that have happened in the past. I made a comment about this awhile back, concerning the beatings and such that occured due to lack of security.
Protect us.
R.T.
NO the national guard shouldn't b called.....what should happen is the legalization of gun carry by citizens......in every single city and state that has legalized both open and concealed carry crime has dropped dramatically.......obviously the criminals have guns or there wouldn't b these shootings.....so gun control is only hurting and making it dangerous for the honest citizen.........a law change that allowed open carry and or concealed carry with or without a permit would stop this nonsense much more efficiently and completely than national guard coming in ever would.......
criminals stop preying on the public when the public is armed.....
If I'm paying taxes and my police resources are insufficient or corrupt to the point where I can't walk around the block then a higher force needs to be brought in!
I'm currently at the Hyatt at O'Hare for a meeting. I had planned on visiting Chicago after the meeting but have now changed my mind for fear of winding up in the wrong area.
I've visited NY and Chicago in the past. NY got to the condition that Chicago is fighting. Perhaps the windy could check out how Mayor Giuliani cleaned up NY. A survey of New Yorkers indicates a major improvement over the years of feeling safe in their own city. Tourism has also improved in the downtown area.
Being an out-of-towner, I certainly don't know if the comparisons are similar but just thought I would throw my .02 cents in.
Good luck, Chicago.
Tim, to call your National Guard soldiers, "high school dropouts" is extremely disrespectful to the men and women defending your country when you are too cowardly to accept the call. On top of that your statement is incredibly inaccurate. Most National Guard Soldiers join to take advantage of the state covering college tuition expenses.
Milford, what is your solution. People in this country need to take a little more responsibility for what is going on in there community's. Get involved instead of accepting this is the way it is.
Victor seems as if hes trying to avoid getting help needed to stop crime, hes trying to do everything but get the national gaurd in to HELP. Its people like that who thinks its bad to ask for help! When an area like that is full of that much crime, all the help available should be used to for those not commiting crime to feel comfortable and safe in their neighborhoods!
The Story about Elevator Union accepting application is incorrect.
750 Applications were to be given out by Local 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) for jobe that come with full time salary and benefits.
If we think for one second that these thugs will not fire upon the National Guard then we are lying to ourselves. Believe it or not, the gangs in Chicago has just as much ammunition as the National Guard. I would like to see it work, but the worst case scenario will be Guards vs. Gangs in a street battle.
Excuse me. Our town has come to realize that money is not the solution to civil unrest. More and more social functions like free concerts and festivals in the streets are bringing people from the north, south, east, and west sides of our town. If Chicagoans can't step off their stoops for social functions, what is there to live for?
What do these communities state reps. want it doesnt matter what we think we dont live there.
Is Victir Woods a total IDIOT ???? I think that they should get the NAtional Guard in to help. Why would the police lay thier guns down and take off the jackets? For what, to get a bullet in the chest? Gang members are nothing but MAD DOGS and should be treated like such. You shoot mad dogs. But I think gang members aren't even worth the price of a good bullet!! They are the scum of society and should be removed!!
yes! the national guard needs to assist the chicago police to restore law and order in our city, we've waited long enough for jody weis to do his job. there are so many victims of volience in our city, and with the hot summer months coming, it will only get worse. please help us national guard!
I am from Gary Indiana which is across the lake maybe 25 min away from these areas. When I lived in Gary, it was around 95-98 Gary declared Marshal Law to clean up the crime and it WORKED! Why put in new cabinets when termites live in your walls? First clean up whats causing the damage, clean up the mess, the RE-Build!
Great Topic ,as you said tony this is Fire , I agree with Victor ,our society has a way of letting a situation fester and then add a volatile emotional response to it,(national guard) and not deal with the under lining problem, that's juvenile , as victor says this a systemic problem that of course has a its roots in racism , (the gorilla in the room) that we're obviously our not mature to deal with , and I wonder if we'll ever be mature enough , the Politician is going the wrong way with this , He needs to sit down with victor and give honest to goodness Hope to the People of Chicago and break the back of violence that way. Thanks for the opportunity to leave you this message , and you do a great Job tony
The guy you just had on your show about the chicago violence is crazy! He said a kid was bleeding and dying and he wouldnt tell the police who shot him because he didnt trust the police! Thats crazy! Its not that they dont trust the police, but that they have a 'Stop Snitchin' campaing going on! As a black male I think its ridiculous for people to get on T.V. and say its not trust! Not Telling, some is mistrust but most is just stupidity trying to get a rep!
I think it is a bit much to deploy the national guard but I also think it is a good idea. The presence alone will scare crime more than it will scare people who live there. I think this will be a good try out model for other cities with the same problems. I think this has nothing to do with money distribution, maybe it did at one time but not anymore. No sense in dumping money into a pool of criminals. Take care of the crime first, then combat the money and job woes.
What is one community's problem today will be another's tomorrow. Violence begets violence. Many people who live in the out skirts or suburbs of Chicago may feel a sense of safety because it is not happening in their neck of the woods but its a false since of security. Do you shop at the Malls, do you go to the movie's and grocery shop? None of us are safe as long as their is a cesspool of simmering violence thats waiting to explode. Many of todays youth aren't afraid of GOD, aren't afraid of JAIL and ain't afraid of DEATH!
Send in a Military Police unit for patrol, presence and set up check points in and out of certain neighborhoods, with the police doing the questioning and searching. Working side by side with the police takkng the lead, will stretch the police resources especially knowing somebody is watching their back.
As a former resident and law enforcement officer in Chicago, I know first hand that some areas in Chicago are war zones. SEND IN THE TROOPS!
Tony,
Send in the Guard. If the CPD hasn't handled the city in years and parents aren't parenting, let's try something different. I live on the westside and people deal drugs openly. Lock them up!
Lock them up in school, not prison!
Educate, innovate, invest in the people and you'll invest in the community.
Do not send in the Military. Send Emergency funding to support the police departments. Give them the tools they need to hire more officers and to create more departments that can specialize in tactics that can win the trust of the people whom they are trying to help.
The south side and west side of chicago thats small potatoes try being in New Orleans the entire city is under siege compare the two. I'm 35 years old and I remember the officer friendly programs this is the legacy from slavery,jim crow laws and reagonimics I can promise you these violent tendencies are not going to stop until people have a proper education and opportunities and they will still be some who will be violent but not as much as it is now.
Tony,
Put simply, Chicago is in a state of crisis. There condition mirrors very closely that of Baghdad. Violence is running rapid, there is no respect for law enforcement, civilians are resulting to seclusion as a form of protection, and the city is becoming synonymous with lawlessness and chaos. Deploying the National Guard to the most needed areas in the city is indeed drastic, but is needed. Just as this act saved lives in New Orleans and certain parts of Texas during Hurricane Katrina, why should this situation warrant a different response from state government?
I live in Chicago. and every Monday morning, when I am getting ready for work, I watch WGN news, and every Monday, its the same thing, 10-20 people shot over night, That's just one day of the week I am focusing on here.. Is the National Guard needed in Chicago?? Yes it is!!
The police have lost control of the south side.. They are out numbered.
So far this year, 5 of my friends have left the city, I am next on the list. I move May 1st and can not wait.
BTW its not just the south side, Uptown, Albany Park, are getting bad also.
Chicago needs the National Guard to help the police there because if nothing is done and they just sit on their butts, the violence will just keep escalating until everyone is dead...I understand the arguments of the opponents quite well, I hate violence quite frankly, but sometimes you have to control violence with violence first to get the situation under control and then solve the problems with peaceful solutions like money, education, better parenting, and more. Right now the people killing others have no value for human life and be put in jail or some kind of educational facility where they can't hurt others, then start with a clean slate.
I fully support bringing the National Guard to the south and west sides of Chicago. People talk about just give police more support, i.e. more officers, and this is exactly what the National Guard could do. The fact that they wear camo instead of blues should make no difference in the fact that they can help make our streets safer. If the crime in these areas decreases, we might be able to get more businesses and therefore more jobs into these economically strained areas. People also seem to forget that there are something called military police, who are uniformed law enforcement officers who receive rigorous training and are very good at what they do.
I thought Chicago was a completely city since NO GUNS are allowed in the city. WOW! Where are all the guns and violence comming from if no one is allowed to own a gun in Chicago? I guess the Democrat Political Machine didn't know about Washington DC and it's crime problems. NO GUNS means Open Season on Law Abiding Citizens. The Criminal have no fear of getting shot by Chicago Citizens because no guns are allowed. BUT who is checking on the Criminals. Why haven't they surrendered their guns? That's right, Criminals don't obey the law. Only the good citizens who are now sheep for the slaughter. GOOD JOB Liberals and Democrates. Get rid of all your hardworking, law abiding citizens and then try to collect taxes from the ones left in the city (The Criminals). GODD LUCK. When are you idiots going to wake up and see the light?
It is very sad that the situation in Chicago has gotten out of control. However when you have extreme circumstances extreme measurers have to be taken to get things under control. The community also has the responsibility to take their communities back. As a short term answer to the problem I agree the National Guard presence is necessary in those effected communities.
They won't give us CCW permits, but hey, the National Guard would be a plus. You ever see what .223 rounds do to flesh? I'm sure it would make the drug dealers and gang bangers think twice before shooting it out with the Guard! LOL!
Being from the illinois national guard i think it would be a great idea. The only problem with this is that the state would probably have trouble paying for this because they never seem to have enough money to pay the soldiers for these things. The law enforcement could use the help and support of the army. They would have many men to move through the neighborhoods cleaning up all the illegal weapons and drugs. Soldiers are not stupid and go through enough training to understand the law. Our rules of engagement in Afghanistan were strongly defensive, turning us into more like a law enforcement. Its not money they need. Money isn't gonna make things better, it's just going to make people keep there mouths shut. The people who don't think anything needs to be done do not realize whats going on.
Dealing with Chicago is kind of like Iraq. Street warfare basically. It takes the USA Military to come into our cities and our streets to defeat basic terrorism. Wow how about we get off of the Iraqi streets and get back onto our main streets. Lets worry about our own problems for once. People here are getting killed left and right and this is OUR problem. WE need to fix it. If it takes the US Military to clean up our horrible streets then thats what we need to do.
The National Guard, when it is operating in its state status pursuant to Title 32 of the U.S. Code, is not subject to the prohibitions on civilian law enforcement. (Federal military forces operate pursuant to Title 10 of the U.S. Code.) In fact, one of the express missions of the Guard is to preserve the laws of the state during times of emergency when regular law enforcement assets prove inadequate. It is only when federalized pursuant to an exercise of presidential authority that the Guard becomes subject to the limitations of the Posse Comitatus Act.
In listening to this argument on your show and others it takes me back to when I was a patrol officer in Los Angeles, 77th Street Area in the 1980. During that time, in that small area (division) the average number of murders were about 150 a year and very little was reported on this in the media. The positive of today is that the first step has been made, reporting to the public, thank you media. The next step has to be to make the community a partner, and this could be accomplished in a verity of methods. But every city has its own personality. So whatever is done has to be customized though study, never forgetting respect, and then implementation in partnership.
Of course the Guard should be released to the streets in parts of Little
Baghdad. There's a war going on and the good guys are losing.
Law abiding citizens need a break from the stress caused my criminals over running their communities. Sorry, but being unemployed is no excuse for killing people. Let's stop making that equation. I'm unemployed and I'm not out committing murder.
When guns are outlawed only outlaws with have guns.
Chicago is supposed to be a safe city. No guns allowed. What happened? Oh, didn't they take the guns from the criminals too? I guess not. Sorry Citizens. You are now sheep for the slaughter. Keep Voting Democrat and keep losing your rights.
National Gaurd in our cities? No! Jobs are the answer. I've seen generations come to pass. Why do we forget what we fought for in the world wars? Mainly, since 9/11, we have given up so many freedoms that the newest generations don't even know what true freedom is. Cameras on every corner, license plates in every state modified so computers can read them, unable go anywhere without ID, more and more you must give your SSN,.....and the list goes on. Now we are going to have the military on our streetcorners. Come on people, we need to vote out this police state and vote in jobs and fairness for the common folk.
I think the National Guard should step in. Not just in Chicago, but other states that have a high murder rate as well. How long are we going to sit by and watch our children suffer, and some of them even die. We are burying our children and our future. I think the situations that are ocurring in these neighborhoods have gone beyond the police. Every year more murders, more dead children, innocent bystanders. Things are not getting any better. We need help. I am a single parent mother with three sons. I am afraid when my sons go to school, they just might not return. The street violence is out of control. Mothers are tired of buring their children due to petty, malicious gang and gun violence. I say bring in the National Guard.
Sure Bring in the National Guard. Hitler used his SS to suppress the Jews. Chicago will use the Military to control the law abiding citizens. The criminal go free. Don't arm the citizens to protect themselves. They would do the job more effectively and cheaper. Can't have that. The politicians need to control the voters and gain more power. Good job Sheeple. Keep voting the same crooks in office. Your don't need your rights.
This is what happens when you take away firearms from the people who can legally own them and the criminals keep their illegal firearms being used for crimes. If people had their 2nd amendment rights maybe the criminals would be scared of the people they are attacking. Chicago did this to themselves.
thank you guys for having this discussion. i have written to the local newspapers here in chicago and no cares to listen. i have lived in chicago all my life and has lived in Englewood for ten years. the violence in chicago is in epidemic proportions. no where in the city is it safe. all the good people in chicago pull down their blinds and enter their homes through the garage. all the criminals stand boldly in the streets and sell their drugs. their are no police cars patrolling our streets. they come when you make a call and then the drug dealers have children on security telling them that the police are coming so that they can walk away. the police department has done minimum work since Jody Weis took office because they felt he was a outsider. plus there is no money to hire extra police. the one good officer in your district that did care is no longer available because he is needed elsewhere. there is no code of silence in the african american neighborhoods there is a urban terrorism standing right outside our house doors. the gangs, drug dealers, and the gun totting thugs are the silence in our neighborhoods. I have made thousands of calls to 911 about the drug activity and guns. I haved attended CAPS meetings for years and yet they still threaten my family and blatantly stand on the corner making drug sales. The National Guards will bring some fear to these young men that blatantly terrorize our streets everyday.
I mirror the thoughts of Father Michael Pfleger:
Father Michael Pfleger "Today, 2 State Reps. are asking for the National Guard to be sent to Chicago to stop the Crime. I just told CNN I understand the Frustration, but disagree. 1) The National Guard Are Trained to KILL 2) You call in the Army as a last resort! We need to get our Communities to Rise up, Stand up and TAKE CONTROL. Let's not ...continue the "Blue Light" Mentality wher we want someone else to run our Block instead of US!!!"
businesses that could provide jobs will not locate in high crime areas. they wiil not want to endanger their employees and deal with the additional problems. and there is no reason why they should when there is literally and entire world to choose from.
send in the guard, calm things down. it will be a "squeeze the bubble" situation where the smart criminals simply relocate but it may, I emphasize "MAY", break the cycle for many of the families.
this is not in any sense a silver bullet. there are many long term plans that need to be put in place and there will be incidents which will be blown into the stratosphere by the press and any jerk who can get a few points out of it.
the ones who will pay the price will be the local citizens either way. the joes will get to live with it too if this is implemented. the talking heads, the 'leaders', and the politicoes could give a rip either way.
in the end, these situations can only be solved by the individuals in the community acting collectively. they are the ones who can set the tone, raise hell, defend themselves, and choose how they are going to live.
the Guard boys and girls, even the cops, can only help. that help can be critical but if the locals decide to get that good warm fuzzy from giving the joes hell for what ever reason instead of helping the joes help them, you just going to end up with the same situation and some joes really screwed up for life.
With unemployment high why doesn’t the state and the city of Chicago Ill, Hire more people like Police, EMS, Fire and other state and City Utilities to give people Jobs and pay taxes and have more eyes on the streets and fight crime. Government bailout seems to be the answer for everything. When do cities & states make any decisions to do their jobs?
For example the state of Texas is hiring more state troopers to help the county sheriffs along the Texas/ Mexico borders to help stop and try and prevent the Cartels to bring their illegal dealing and death squads over to the US/Texas side. Since this is a federal issue funds should be spent in protecting the US citizens along all US/Mexico boarders.
US border patrol is hiring because they need more people to help patrol the southern US boarders. If they really want a job why don’t they sign up and become a border patrol officer. They need people and are hiring.
However I don’t the state of Ill create harsher penitalties like Texas to help assist the courts and the police to fight crime. If the state only gives a slap on the wrist and lock those up where they receive 3 meals a day and get medical and dental on the state then released why the criminal element should stop living that life and just roll the dice again when released. They might think twice before committing the first offence.
Has anyone thought of this. What happens when the National Guard leaves the city. The criminals will return with a vengence on the citizens. Again they will not fear anyone because the criminals will be armed and the citizens will not. What a cycle. But keep voting Democrat. Keep the Political Criminals in power.
I agree the National Guard should come in and help. The city does not have enough police to get the job done. These gangs have no fear of anything or anyone. Enough is enough, you have to stop it before people stop coming to the city. Is it going to take mass murders? They don't respect life, so they don't care who they kill. Pouring money into the community only gives the gangs another target to attack and rob. Pour the money into education and safety of the children. Something has to be done to stop the gang killings.
I truly loved Tony Harris calling a loud mouth representative on the carpet today by asking him where the proof was in what he was saying and of course he had no proof-it was all nasty rhetoric. Keep up this type of reporting and maybe CNN can really make a difference in the flavor of news presentation and peoples' perceptions. Barbara
He– yea. Whatever is needed to thwart crime. Not are only are these thugs killing , there killing babies. I welcome the National Guards and any others,.
I think the National Guard can be trusted. 40 years ago the military was a different military. They were trained to kill and that's about it. Now they're expected to police Afghanistan and Iraq while minimizing casualties, why can't they be trusted to do the same thing here. I doubt they will have machine guns and grenade launchers but they would have body armor and rifles that would present a huge deterent to anyone thinking of committing a crime. I worked with some of the Illinois NG recently in Afghaninstan and I think they are up to the task. On the other hand, we could see gangs attack soldiers trying to get some cool new guns.
Good Morning Tony Praise The Lord Brother,
However until Citizens feel safe to participate in Community Development Programs, ProgrAMs will be useless! You have to Secure The Streets Before Implementing Positive Change!!
Nice Interview Keep Up The Good Work!
GOD Bless.
Sincere United States AIR FORCE Retired
It seems like all these people that are against allowing the National guard to come in to help the Chicago police for the short term have lots of lame reasons not to and no solutions. Like the person you had on your show which suggested that the police put down their guns and patrol the areas without arms and bullet proof vests, to regain the trust of the citizenery in those troubled spots, is just outright ridiculous. What world is he living in? While the police are at it, they can hand out fruit baskets and flowers to the criminals in the streets. This is going to get alot worst before it gets any better.
Using the Guard to augment local poice agencies is out of the question, and not the intended purpose of the guard. Our state and federal military should NEVER be used for law enforcement. This is the same excuse Hitler used as the NAZI party climbed to power, for creating a police state. The issues facing the citizens of Chicago should be handled by local law enforcement, by creating citizens groups and backing them up 100% in their efforts to report and eliminate crime on their own streets and neighborhoods. Gang members and violence should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Drugs are the fuel for this kind of street violence and gangs are the engine that keeps the train going. Eliminate the drugs, the gangs, or the users, and you eliminate the problem. Create programs to provide users with free drugs if they agree to clean-up. Make any form of gang participation a state jail felony. Put all the existing felons to work cleaning up the area, and you will see the crime rate drop over night. There are many other ways to short circuit the dynamic, but when you have a mayor and other politicos who's welfare depends on maintaining the status quo you will never get this fixed, not even if you sent in the Marines!
Im in agreement with bringing in the National Guards. The federal government and federally funded programs has done nothing to rid crime in our inner cities, matters just got worse; based on the condition of our economy, crime will, indeed, increase during the summer months. It's like the situation with illegal immigration, if the federal government is failing our country, we need to put in place those who can get the job done. The national guards should have been implemented in washington, D.C. many years ago where crime is just as bad–even more so. Its a no brainer. Bring in the guards or any other organization to take back our communities, our country!
Manassas, Virginia
No jobs, No education, No shoes, and no food... but they can afford to buy guns, buy drugs... and all with enough ambition to rob, steal, and kill. The dynamics in this situation are severely distorted. Send the National Guard to handle domestic situations in Chicago, Arizona planning drive-by arrests on immigrants; we might as well open up the “for-profit” concentration camps. No one seems to be considering the social implications of these decisions… you can not bleed water from a stone! One can not grow corn on asphalt. It takes a community to raise a child… if teachers won’t help, then police will simply reload on the tax payer’s dime. God Bless America!
The Puerto Rico Army National Guard has been activated to assist the PRPD almost every other year with great success. It is just an extra pair of hands to assist the PD. It is a great idea.
i wonder why most of the crime is hapening in poor neighbors because they have no jobs so why spend all this money bringing the national guards when you can spend wisely on creating jobs
jobs not guns i think that will slow down the crime.
Ottawa Canada
What is the guard gonna do? stand around with no live ammo and jus look tuff? Seriously? Are they gonna give them ammo and allow for a shoot out?
In 1968 in Washington, D.C. When Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. got shot, people came in the streets and protested by burning buildings and destroying department stores. President Johnson sent the National guard to Washington to help stabilize the situation. We as children had a set time that we had to be in the house. I think Chicago is going through something similar to that of Washington back in 1968. So, I think the National Guard would be essential inorder to stabilize the situation that's going on in Chicago. Thank-You, (Michelle).
Hi Tony,
I was part of a PD in CA with a similar violent crime problem in the mid 90's. In response, we mobilized a 20+ man SWAT team wearing military BDUs armed with sub-machine guns (driving in marked patrol cars) to address these problems. (see VCSU) In the short term we made a difference. But, once an impact was made and the violent criminal's presence had subsided the unit digressed into one that focused on heavy handed tactics impacting minorities in lower socio-economic neighborhoods. The constitution (probale cause, search & seizure) went out the window and trust between the community and the police had been destroyed. These were officers with knowledge of Constitutional procedures, can u imagine an untrained military response. Based on my experience in this community, these actions would not have been tolerated for one day if employed in the wealthier white-dominated areas. This might seem like a necessary evil, but in the long run if not handled properly it will alienate an already under represented faction of the community. We need to build these communities not tear them down any further.
Tony, I grew up in one of the most violent areas in the world, Englewood. I have seen quasi-military community interventions ranging from Multiple Police helicopters shining spotlights on Bull's championship street celebrations, black community lounge closings as a response to the Bears Superbowl win in 85', the national guard troop carriers rumbling down 63rd street after MLK assassination when Daley gave the infamous "Shoot to Kill" order for suspected looters...Englewood has been & always will be seen as an area needing occupation and restraint by threat of force by the powers that be....Gang violence & random acts of horrific proportions mirror the start of jungle warfare insurgencies in the 3rd world...What's next, a call for "Martial Law". Think NIMBY...:)
i think that deployment of us troops will result in yet another example of why we need to try new things again and again.
of course the guards should come in if the crime is so bad, we can't even walk out doors after dark, whats going on with this country/?? they make a big issue of the war casualtys, but theres more here everyday
this is the first step to marshall law. dont be fooled. they are just using the violence as an excuse. if chicago sits back and takes this then it wont be long.
Dear TONY: I was suppose to be visiting my family there next month. I am thinking about canceling my flight reservation now, That's scary. I was just there last October and it wasn't that bad. What is going on in the Windy City? Maybe I should watch WGN more often so I can keep track of what's going on back home.
Trust on a local, state, and federal level will be defined by many on this matter. Truth and justice as well.
Tread lightly or don't tread on me?
The city of Chicago should ask police services in the 48 states to borrow some police officers to help in dealing with the crime in the city. Chicago would simply have the police officers sworn in as temporary help. Police officers are trained to deal with civil disobediance, but a soldier are not. They are trained for conflicts, it would be unwise for Chicago to bring in the National Guard to the city do deal with the criminal elements, when law enforcers is what is required.
The National Guard should not be deployed because they are trained for a different mission and are not trained to operate domestically the way the police force is. What should be done is that the police force needs to be beefed up and improve relations with the community. More police funding and better training. The National Guard should only be used in an advisory role. Mixing in the military with the civilian population is never a good idea as history has shown.
Northwood, New Hampshire
Without Police, National Guard or Military, anarchy will prevail. Most criminals have mob mentality and have no regard for personal property or life for that matter. Our laws are too lenient on criminals as it is. If someone doesn't obey a police officers request to stop, freeze or anything else they ask, force should be applied without fear of retribution from our own cities and government putting them in jail for excessive force. There is a fine line between too much force, that's something congress should work out. You can't talk to a thug in the ghetto who is on drugs and his only job is robbing his neighbors and businesses, are you kidding? Most of these criminals have animal mentality and no rational logic. They somewhat understand guns and police because that is the only presence that will shoot back for the most part, other than rival gangs.
Bring in more Police, National Guard and Military if you have to, these criminals need to be stripped of their illegal weapons and stock piles of drugs. They need to be educated and employed. Other than the gang bangers, most of the lower socio-economic residents want a better quality of life and willing to work for it. We need to protect them and rid society of the ridiculous amount of criminals running free and causing havoc on society. Our prisons are over flowing and rapists and pediphiles are living next to all of us. Look at the Chelsea King case in San Diego, RIDICULOUS! If you pull a gun on a Police official, you should be shot on the spot. Let's adopt a few laws from the Saudi's and watch the crime drop! Here are some ideas after a guilty verdict by a jury of peers: If you murder someone, death sentence. If you rape a woman, castrated! If you rape a child, death sentence, If you steal, lose a hand....Sentence carried out within 30 days, not 30 years! imagine how safe our country would become? Imagine not having to lock the door on your house or car that you worked so hard to buy. Criminals COST America, they don't ADD to America. Some people on this comment list are confusing protesting with outright criminal violence. Apply force to violent crimals. On that note, most radical protestors are willing to stop at nothing to prove a point. If you don't like the laws, taxes and system of government here, MOVE to another country and then complain about your rights! I could go on and on. Some ask what happened to our country? I've heard that and I've also asked it. What has happened is we have given the public TOO much freedom, hence the violent crimes, drugs and weapons. I'm a believer in freedoms also, but as I wrote in the beginning, anarchy will prevail with no show of police. Why is Charles Manson still being supported by you and I, the taxpayers? Really? You want to decrease federal and state spending? Start with a San Quentin firing squad!! I'm hard on crime and support education. Help people who want to be helped and get rid of those who abuse our countries laws. Remember to vote, it does help.
I imagine all these things were discussed before sending troops into Boston.
The National Guard should NOT be used to police our streets; this is why we have police officers. If there is no funding to support our officers then there needs to be an officer pay cut in order to support our police force and meet our needs, increase employment for our city and secure our neighborhoods; we cannot just look to government for assitance to bail us out for everything especially when they come at a cost of our civil liberties. Can anyone say that they want to allow the national guard to pull them over at their idea of suspicion? Thy are not trained in criminal law to the extent of a police officers. I want a safe community as well but i am not willing to believe that there are no competant representatives, law enforcemnet heads and constituants that can resolve this problem without the help of the gov. We can figure this out chicago we are smart, independant, we have good ideas, and we know and fight for what we want and what is right for us. There is no doubt that we have had some bad leaders but this is where we voice our opinions and make it known that we are active, contributing citizens and we know taht we the people know what is best for us and do not need the gov to interven in our security.Someone previously made a comparison of Chicago to Kabul; these two cities are nowher near comparable.
There are other ways of acting and making decisions in times of increased crime then just jumping the gun to the National Guard. I love this country , i value our freedoms, and i expect that we continue to prosper. Its time to start making our leaders think of alternatives to government intervention. We are a nation of innovation so let s get to it no excuses.
Plenty of folks on this forum seem to be against sending in the guard. They claim the “community” should get involved. Actually the “community” is in the minority as far as gang-bangers go. It’s the gang-bangers that are in the majority. Perhaps not in number, but with guns. Any community activist who wants to help make their area better to live in takes a chance in getting blown away in a drive by-shoot-out. And they don’t stand a chance to protect themselves, because it’s against the law for an abiding citizen to have firearms. How’s that for getting involved? Nope, these folks desperately need the guards, and need them yesterday. At least the guards could start in small steps by inspecting all the abandoned homes and apartment buildings and remove all the illegal weapons stashed in them. But if the gang-bangers are reading this, they’ll probably remove them before the guard comes in.
I also agree with Tony H....move the guard to the non-violent areas, and send the police into the well-known criminal activity areas. Excellent suggestion I think. That should appease some of the liberal views on this forum. Then again probably not! In conclusion, the issue is moot..it is my opinion Chicago’s Mayor Daley would never ever want to admit he has lost control of the situation in his city, neither would their Chief of Police. I bet the guard never gets called.
its a no brainer.. shouldve done it long ago and in every city in the united states
The problem in Chicago is that there's no respect for people,I don't live in Chicago and the way it's turning out I'm sure I wouldn't even visit,now the persons who are responsible for all of this is got to be our youth.14 to 20 years old and if this is so where are the parents in all of this and don't try to blame this on race because race has nothing to do with this.Because when all of this is over some one will say that's what started it all.I promise you that Al Sharpton is already starting something about this and if a child gets hurt by a lawman then the naacp will rain down.
I think the US National Guard should be activated to help the Chicago Police officers that actually do their job. I lived in Chicago for most of my life and noticed that when I flagged down a police officer to report a crime in progress. The officer told me that "it's not my district".
I feel that if the US National Guard can be activated to go patrol other nations, We can sure keep our troops home to patrol our own streets in the US. Have the Guard "GUARD" our streets or Let Responsible Chicago residents Have their own weapons to protect themselves. I think that Superintendent Weis needs to monitor his police officers better.
The deployment of the National Guards to Chicago will only delay the medication destined for a very severe womb infection. Until these lawmakers are exclusively held accountable for this infection, they will continue to grandstand and receive praise despite their inability to provide the people with an appropriate medication to combat this severe infection.
People usually respond to drastic actions with drastic and irresponsible solutions. The presence of many soldiers saturating a certain area will project an illusion of diminishing infection, but in actuality, during their deployment, the infection is spreading.
What are we to do when that medication is exhausted and the womb is even more infected?
You must be kidding me. There was a reason why church and state were seperate. You think allowing Marshall law is going to help a already fragile situation? I sit and watch people complain about things that we fought to have and it backfires because someone is going to find a way to beet it. Human desire is always going to trump ill atempts to supress.
Sending the National Guard might be a good idea. However, Chicago’s mayor should be replaced as well as the chief of police. I remember last year watching Chicago’s mayor on TV. The news reporter asked him what did he want the world to hear about the violence going on in the city, and his response was something along the lines of nothing there is street violence going on everywhere around the world. The violence going on here is no different that any other major city. If he really cared he should have asked for help then. This is the same mayor that pushed for the next Olympic to be held in Chicago. I am glad it is not.
The National Guard steps in to control crime in Chicago. Well it's about time. Big Brother is in the hizouse! I always thought the military should get involve with the high crime rates in these urban and large cities.
I hope this is a preview to what is to come for other major cities. This is the beginning of the end of our freedoms. Big Brother will have easy access to what we do bc a small amount of us are barbaric. Our lives will be controlled based upon the hysteria of fear.
People shouldn't live in fear, but we will pay a hefty price for the military involving itself in local government. I bet Obama is behind it. I pray that he is not another puppet.
National Guards on our streets, guarding what? Meeting force with force? Sounds like a new problem to me. What about putting a lot of light on the drug dealers and gangs and showing the world the cause of the fear. Remember the "street angels' in I think New York, they wore red berets and patroled the streets. Also If people there are unemployed they could walk the children to school(all ages) and then volunteer at the school in the classroom, on the playground, becoming the eyes and ears for the school and the police. Parents need to 'step up'! As they do then they will draw more coverage on their plight. Creating a police state will not end the fear that the decent people are living with.
The saying "desperate times call for despirate measures" fits this situation. I do believe the city police need help. It is true that the National Guard may not be trained in the juditial procedures of things, but a little less Red Tape may not be a bad thing. I dont care how bad your economic situation is, that doesnt mean its ok for a 20 month old girl to take a bullet to the head. Im curious so see how the people of the surrounding areas feel, their opinions should way heavily.
Mr. president Chicago is asking for help what are you going to do .
It is the cities responsibility to protect its citizens not the national guard. The national guard should be protecting the country from others not its citizens. You cannot send to military to police the citizens, I believe that is in the law books somewhere.
On the other hand, most of the country does not think we need help with illegal immigration. The federal government has failed us. None of the rules apply anymore. Send them out and tell them to use extreme prejudice.
No need for the National Guard. Just need to relax gun laws in Illinois. Let the public be armed not the criminals. In areas where the public is legally armed crime is much lower. Right now, only criminals have guns in Chicago. Therefore criminals rule. Allow the public to be armed and the public will rule.
Let me be sure I understand this..... Chicago first removes the unalienable right to defend itself, by flaunting the Constitution of the United States by making it's Citizens DISARMED VICTIMS, ripe to let crime flourish, and then wants to bring in US Citizen Soldiers to maintain a "safe" environment for Citizens? Let's cut out the middlemen, repeal the Victim Disarmament laws and give the Citizens a change to defend themselves and THEN worry about bringing in the Guard to insure the people are free to defend themselves! That would at least allow the Guardsmen/women to fulfill their oath to Defend the Constitution instead of making those trained to defend the US into Police officers, for which they are NOT trained... Police State Mentality if you ask me...
I agree with calling the national gaurd, some street thugs have the same type of weapons the military have. I 'm wondering why it has taken this long to address that issue.most thugs seem to just get slap on the wrist.i hope some of those new super prisons sitting empty out west get put to good use.I'm sure no one wants to here anymore excuses like they come from broken homes.putting them in prison will provide a most stable home.
This is a joke. The country feels the need to flex it's power over seas but can't control there own land. If someone feels the need to kill someone, put them in the military. You get to kill and get paid for it. It's really a win/win. You can kill somebody legally and if you die... Nobody is going to care. Military burial, wheeping mothers and maybe a medal.
Here is a quote for those who are in doubt. "For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."
Thomas Jefferson
The National Guard is not a tool of the state government to use at a whim. It is used as a tool for keeping the peace and for providing relief and aide.
Under NO circumstances should it be used as a police force. They should be stationed around State and local government buildings to protect the buildings and those who work in them from violence. Not for patrolling the streets and putting down the malcontent!
If they are called in under that role, not only is it unconstitutional, it is a sad day for this country. A day where we've seen the every day citizen having to submit to the will of the military. I day I pray I never ever have to see in this country.
I've been thinking long about how Detroit with an understaffed Police force can handle a similar situation in Detroit. The county doesn't send police in to help the city. The state doesn't send them in either. Maybe it's time to use the National Guard here too.
People say they aren't trained to act like civilian police. So lets train them to act like civilian police. It's good training for when they get deployed to foreign countries to act like police. It can't be difficult to train someone to ride along with a regular cop and be his or her backup. They could probably just recruit more soldiers as Military Police and just use them to support our local police. They could even dress like regular police the same way police reserves do. Does all this really have to be as complicated as we make it? It's clear what we've been doing in crime ridden areas for years hasn't worked. I'm for a change.
This weekend I happen to catch a short segment of CNN featuring an appearance by an activist named Woods. It seemed to me that in regards to Chicago's murder problem, Mr Woods blamed the mayor, city officials, and even indicated that the schools were at fault for not teaching young people not to kill each other. All in all, it seems that Mr Woods ( much like many activists) blamed everyone for the actions of these young murderers, except for the murderers themselves, their parents and family members. Hey, what about holding the parents responsible for the actions of their children under the age of eighteen.
Wow.. already we have cops with blockades under the guise of 'checking drivers for violations – excuses of dui, no license -etc..." which is EXACTLY what blockades in Russia and WWII Hitler era did.
Now we want to use the military instead of the local gestapo police we already have hounding and attacking civilians in this country already...
Sounds like more of Obama Socialism. Will we be issued 'papers' soon and need permission to venture out after daylight???
Hey Tony....im no conspiracy theorist, but does this action not sound sort of Orwellian? What more can the Gaurd do that the Chicago police have not. The NAtional Guard is not a law enforcement entity.anti-immigration laws in Arizona and the National Guard in Chicago, whats next?
First of all if you don’t live in an environment like these people in Chicago live in then you couldn’t come close to understanding the totality of the problem. Your solution will be to send in the National Guard, FYI that is martial law. The problem is that these communities are low income, drug and gang infested, and now others are seeing what inequality created in our own backyards. If you want to help you have to start by educating these kids and those living in these communities. Not sending trained troops to combat crime that is said to be caused by children. These are children not Al Qaida. I grew up in Los Angeles California and the same problem exists there. It’s not just Chicago it’s every major city with a minority ghetto. You are not going to find these problems in all white communities only in African-American, and Hispanic communities. Now what does that say to us, that all African-Americans and Hispanic people are savages? No, we are not. But under the condition in which minority people have grown up in (the ghettos) it has bred this problem of gangs, drug, and poverty. Which created kids having junkies for parents, having to steal food to eat, poor education at school, their fathers and mothers being taken away (due to incarceration) and the list goes on and on. America is so quick to point the finger and has failed to realize that we as a whole have not paid attention to our own 3rd world countries here in the US (Ghettos in California, Chicago, New York, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, etc.).So let’s take a look at when this Nation has ran to the Aid of the minority people. And I hope the example of Katrina is not it because we seen clearly what the bush administration did to help.
You gave got to be kidding me!!! We flex our power over seas that don't want it. Now we can't control our own turf. Whoa, you could use people that want to kill and it will be legal. If they die... You can give them a military burial, console the weeping widow and give them his medal. If I didn't lay the sarchasim thick enough... Fix yourself before engaging people that hate you and just don't care
If they don't want the guard in their streets, then obey the law and turn in the names of those they observe breaking the law.
No,
The National Guard should protect our borders, not police our streets and cities.
This is an absurd suggestion. The National Guard would not bring anything to the table. They would be constrained by civilian law from doing anything other than being additional police, and as the police superintendant stated in another interview, at one recent crime scene there were 36 officers present and someone still decided to start shooting at them. That is the second such instance in recent weeks. So presence is obviously not the issue.
The implication is that the National Guard would essentially conduct a counterinsurgency operation. The problem with that thinking is that security is only one component of counterinsurgency, and is all but useless on its own. In a counterinsurgency scenario security forces are there to protect the implimentation of programs designed to politically and economically engage the local population, in order to get them to participate in legitimate economic and political activities.
That is why the police have been ineffective. No matter how good a job the police or National Guard do suppressing violence, the problem will never be solved unless the city government can engage the residents of these areas and get them to work together, and with the city, to improve their neighborhoods. That means working with the police to stop criminal activity; but it also means the city ensuring that there are job opportunities and necessary support for the citizens.
Marshall Law is not the answer, remember Kent State... The State need to find ways to instill fear into criminal and the young thugs that looks up to them. Let’s start by having a Q & A about amputating convicted killers limbs i.e. trigger finger, arms, or legs.. This is a long term solution..... eye for an eye....
Outsiders like me living in safety tend to tut tut and demand the cops do their jobs. Yet with all the constraints they cannot just go out and do a job controlling a mob, a job that only an army can do. I am very familiar with the Posse Comitatus statutes and am a maniac for the Constitution and Civil Rights. But, when the last riots hit LA and the cops were overwhelmed the National Guard was called in. Order was restored within hours; There were military vehicles at nearly every street corner; I and everyone else suddenly drove within speed limits and obeyed traffic signals. The violence stopped. I don't pretend that the National Guard stationed for more than a week or two could have done much, but the sudden appearance made the cops more effective in controlling the situation once they left.
It saddens me that this is what crime has now warranted in this country / Chicago IL. I do believe sometimes drastic measures are considerable options for order.
I would like to see however for every juvenile / adult person who commits a crime immediately go through a Boot Camp. Sign them up for civil service. They should join one of our armed forces to give back to all. This is why.... Ignorance is costly.
The amount of dollars a crime cost each and everyone of us is astounding. Show them.. i mean really show them that it cost an average of 45,000 a year to feed them behind bars and then more money to cover a court appointed attorney. And it cost less than 40,000 to provide residential services and care for a developmental disabled individual, or an elderly person who did not commit a crime. Do they know the truth? That the homeless, indigent do not have to be. That there is lack of funding because crimes suck up so much money.... we all pay. What this country lack is..... AWARENESS.
The opposite is ignorance.
Attention mothers and fathers, love your children and teach them birth control.. give them dreams.. and show them they are of great value to you and the rest of the world.
Crime come from the parents who provide an environment that is less then what a child deserves. TEACH TEACH.... and people who commit crimes .. please use birth control
Looks like the police department can't do it,is it time to get new police ledership?
I figured out how we can save TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS for all states in America!!!!! Shorten the sentences for prisoners with drug cases. My brother Micheal Smith has been in prison in California for about 20 years and he was caught with less than a Ounce of Cocaine (Rock). I calulate that we( The Tax Payers) are spending about $43,000 a year per prisoner. Do the math! Do to the the three strike law in California, he will be there for the rest of his life. Do the math and he is 45 years young. "1 Ounce of Cocaine has cost us ( The Tax Payer) $860,000 so far and counting. Now that my friend Tony is the Business."
What part of "illegal" don't people get? I find it very odd that legal citizens of Hispanic origin would support law breaking. They are American citizens who should be concerned about this as well. The vast majority of Arizona residents wants this bill.
Just curious why we have not heard anything from the media about violence (throwing bottles at police) that some in the pro-illegal immigrant protests engaged in? the media was all worked about supposed "violence" by tea party folks, yet real violence by some in Arizona is being ignored. why is that?
Could it be because the media is sympathetic to illegal immigration?
I thought we have been told that our military can't be on the border carrying arms, yet we are now supposed to bring in the armed national Guard to Chicago?
No Way in Hell should the National Guard be called in to Chicago. End America's failed war on drugs and return the use and administration of drugs BACK to the medical community and OUT of the hands of crass, callous and greedy politicians.
America and President Obama absolutely does not need another Kent State massacre by US Military machine guns on law abiding American Citizens.
I am active duty Army for 7 years now. I was before in the National Guard for 6 years. The National Guards job contains to all enemies foriegn and domestic, not just disaster relief. If the streets of Chicago are getting out of control then the there is definatley an enemy present. I think the National Guard will be a useful tool to drive down crime in the areas needed and will be able to help the police who have been burnt out and spread to thin to control all this.
There's a reason you separate military and the police. One fights the enemies of the state, the other serves and protects the people. When the military becomes both, then the enemies of the state tend to become the people. Is that really what the people need? I'm just reminded of the movie The Siege when I hear see the commentary on this story, people being rounded up just for fitting a profile of a criminal. It's a sad time for our country
I don't understand why people with experience in organizing a community like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton aren't there trying to help with this problem Where are they?
Yes they should bring in the national guard! The main reason there is a problem is gangs, lack of jobs and no education.
1. Round up the gangs...they know who they are and where they are!
2. People don't have work, jobs are given to people who don't even live in the city! The money that Obama is giving to the states for roads and other projects are not given to the people that live in th e"INNER CITY" that money is going outside. What are some of the people to do for work, food, clothes, etc.
3. Which comes to education...most people in the "INNER CITY" don't have the education to get the jobs that pay a wage that can support a family of 3 or 4. Welfare no longer does it. And unemployment can't even keep a roof over some people's heads.
Look at the whole picture and address it, give people a reason to want to live, and take care of where they live. NO HOPE means I DON"T CARE! And even if I do have the education we all know the real deal when it comes to the inner city. If I get out of jail/prison I can't get a good job even though I paid my debt to society. What is a man to do...Be homeless! My God! is there real hope anywhere?!
Chicago a Gun Free zone? chicago has shown that the chicago handgun ban dont work at all. and there is still shooting going on in chicago. Pretty ironic. I think allowing the law abiding citizen to own the firearm will reduce the crimes in chicago. and able to apprended the criminal shooter quicker than waiting for Police to come.
oh yea sorry not about the violence just go in get things done criminals cost us too much so does the war in Iraq so get rid stupid punishments be more harder on those who commit crimes then it will warn others what will happen to them we dont work pay taxes for people to sit around and do nothing!!!
This is a really bad idea. I have patrolled in Iraq and other places. I lived through Katrina. Unless you declare martial law and put the entire city under military law and military rule, this is a horrible idea.
What in the world are these lawmakers thinking? Our nation was founded on the very natural democratic reaction to military being used for routine law enforcment. Its a Bad Idea ™ and is in violation of Posse Commitatus.
If the police are not getting the job done, yes, use the national guard while you build a formidable police force.
What should be done is beef up the police officers. make them more equipped. if they're over weight they should be behind a desk or working on losing the wieght before they go protect the streets. if you send the national guard into chicago and it's a success, now all other major cities with high crime rates like Philadelphia will want the National Guard too. the military is too powerful. lets say gang members get sick of the troops being and they decide they want to do something about it. now we not only have our boys being killed overseas in some foriegn land be here on the homefront as well. there needs to be a serious increase on the punishments these criminals get. our government and law enforcement need to come up with something because what we have now isn't getting the job.
Strategically place the guardsmen on corners that define gang territories. CPD doesn't have the resources to dismantle the turf wars. Let gang members try to take up arms on real soldiers.
No – we don't need martial law! What would help – GIVE US OUR GUNS BACK! Thanks to the law, only criminals have guns. No wonder they are robbing and killing us left and right. We are trying to defend ourselves with kitchen knives against a gun.
I dont really have the time to look around and see where I can post information so I just post it where ever. This is also do partly to the caos we already experience in our daily lives so rather than try to help make it better I will just add to the caos. Americans are viewed by the rest of the world as dumb. The rest of the world is playing on the notion that you are dumb people. America has not seen the worst. As americans walks blind The silent killer is all around them. Why do you not open your eyes? Cant you see you are not who you once were cant you see that your going no where. why does only a part of this country suffer during these hard times for many. if you all joined together and turn off your cell phones turn off your cable you would surely put others in your same position. why dont you stop going to the movies or shop you would put even more in your position. Do you really need to watch how others are living fine while you suffer and struggle why not bring the rest of them down with you. Think about it America you will keep losing. Not just in the eyes of America but in the eyes of the world. America you are a falling country. Anthony Penta
Let the National Guard take over the calm parts of the city. You know just like that Iraqi Surge were our brave and trained for city encounters Marines won the battle. Even George Bush understood surge, hold, surge, hold. repeat and rince.
The military is FAR more trained then the jokers that call themselve police in Chicago. (which are most likely corrupted by their superiors aka Aldaman and Mayor Daley)
Hmm... maybe overturning the illegal gun ban, allowing citizens to carry their own handguns might work?
Encouraging citizens to protect themselves, taking some weight off the shoulders of police?
Deploying the national guard... to fight US Citizens? Seriously?! I know there are people who say there is a precedent (Kent State), but this should never happen in the US.
This is how you enter a police state. Weapons are banned, people beg for protection from the police, police demand even more powers, people agree for the sake of safety... poof your rights are gone.
Come on people. This is insane. This goes to show you that criminals will find weapons no matter what, armed citizens deter and help prevent crimes. Overturn the ban, watch the crime rate fall.
Yeah!!!!! we instituting Marshall law
i believe they should bring them into chicago becasue the neighborhoods are getting wayyy to bad and i know its only for the summer so whats there to complain about? now imagine the not here in chicago for the summer.. alot of people will be injured. what happened to chicago?!
Refer those uninformed Illinois lawmakers to the Posse Comitatus Act.
If the kind of activity is happening on Wall Streat level, hedging against something that is going to fail and not knowing the intentions, what willstop these individuals who work for different companies from doing the same thing on a consumer level?
Yeah, that's a great idea to give the US government the power to use the US military in a US city police patrolling situation. That whole gang violence excuse is a great place for them to start implementing this. They're going to pull on our heart strings by telling us that more kids will die if they don't do something.
Send the Illinois State Police in there or a gang task force. Hire some local cops that care about their own city to take care of their own city.
Go ahead citizens – open pandora's box and let the US Military in there with the National Guard and the next thing you know 19-20 year old kids with no life experience will be marching down your street, pulling you over and shooting you like a suspected terrorist in a small town in Iraq. There is a legal term for this type of action and it is called "Martial Law".
People better wake up. The States better wake up. 300 Million lives are starting to be completely and militarily controlled by 1000 administrators in Washington DC – in a land mass the size of the city of Detroit.
Wake up, yell, tweet, defend your freedom – and tell them HELL NO.
Yes I do believe the national guard is a good idea for Chicago's crime. However, I do believe that the National Guard is not qualified to handle acts of crime and proper arrest. As as veteran of the United States Army, I served several tours overseas and the way that we handled civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan would not be acceptable here in the United States. The National Guard would be a great source of "presence patrols" in the streets to reduce crime but I believe that if the Natural Guard started arresting people there will be law suits and many criminal charges will be dropped for improper handling in suspects in the alleged crime. Before the National Guard is called in, the Chicago Police and the City of Chicago must set proper procedures for the National Guard to eliminate these types of potential problems.
I think Chicago has reached Gotham City status.
Oh, and Moe, you obviously dont know what you're talking about. They would love to have more local police, problem is they don't have more police. It takes years to have a properly trained cop. If you just gave citizens a pistol and a police cruiser they'd be far more reckless than any soldier. Especially these days where most soldier have TONS of experience with weapon safety.
The military isn't some caged animal that's is let loose on our enemies. You probably don't notice that there are soldiers walking down youre streets everyday, what difference does it make if they're in uniform and at work. I hate when people talk about the military when they have no clue how it actually works.
It is law that the government is not allowed to set the military on its citizens.
Nothing more to say!
Simple solution. Allow all competent adults that have not been convicted of a violent crime to carry a firearm. It can be open carry or concealed carry. Gun control is knowing what is around your target and hitting what you are aiming for.
If you outlaw all guns then only the outlaws will have guns.
Just to let you know Moe. The Illinois National Guard is not considered the US Military. The National Guard takes orders from the Governor of Illinois. The National Guard can be called into action by the federal government in a time of war if they are needed.
Of course the National Guard is needed. The mayhem is at a level the locals can't handle. Why allow vciolence to continue? Shut it down now.
To those saying that the National Guard is full of kids that will cause problems, remember that the National Guard also helped during the civil rights era to protect, and it worked out great. These are their own homes and communities they are protecting, so they will obviously do their best. I think it's a great idea to bring them in to help enforce the law.
The code of silence in the hoods was taught by the example of the Chicago Police code of silence and the the Chicago politicians code of silence.
The populace has seen the code of silence work, in conjunction with legal loopholes and they think it's the only way they can survive.
examples.
Drunk Chicago policeman beats a Barmaid ON VIDEO and walks due to judge finding a loophole.
Drunk Chicago policeman kills 2 residents in a car crash after being in a bar and doing shots ON VIDEO. 6 officers on the scene refuse to say he was drunk, no tests, and the officer walks from 2 deaths.
When the populaxce sees this, they understand how justice really works. But why do the residents stay in these hoods?
Mayor Daley is reaping a harvest from the seeds he's sown.
Hi Tony,
Just a quick question. How much is it costing, and who is paying for the cleanup of the oil spill?
Tony: As one of your reporters to read and report on Mexico's immigration law. You will be surprised!
Don
The National Guard is a solution. It will send a clear message to the people of Chicago, that America will not tolerate violence in the streets. Especially, against children.
I think it's sad that we spend all this time, and money, playing world police, but people don't want to use the national guard to protect people in our own country, when it matters the most. Chicago is a war zone in certain areas, the average citizen does not feel safe, and they shouldn't. I think America needs to start protecting Americans in this situation.
Tony, I cannot believe how the news media is making this issue of Arizona so bias to appear that it is against Americans, (the illegal issue is an issue that seems to be one that is not addressed). Illegal means "against the law" and the illegals don't belong in our Country unless they come through our process. They should be deported and our Political system should do this, instead they come over here and start getting benefits that are being stretched to the breaking point. Arizona, and other States have more illegal criminals that we taxpayers are supporting, yet they, Mexico's politicians included, wants more and more from us...Look at the state of affairs that the State of California is in, and check out how much of their monies goes to "illegals"....Obama and Congress should put a stop to the inflow of illegals and consider the American people who have worked all of our lives and yet our benefits are getting to the bare bone. Thank you for letting me express my concerns...has anyone ask about the poor Americans that have been killed because of "illegals" invading their homes??? Let's focus on the problem not what the "illegals" feels are "their rights"....
why don't they just take all those violent criminals and place them on an island unknown to man and let them fight for their own lives! they keep criminals that are guilty in jail to help and provide them with a second chance, place them on parole and let them come back, and live on or streets. And they wonder why our children are raised around violence
This threat of bringing in soldiers with machine guns to the streets of Chicago sounds very much like a 'trial balloon' to gauge America's opinion and acceptance at mass martial law first across America's border with Mexico and moving to the most populated metro-city areas across America from coast to coast.
The feeble test of using soldiers with machine guns for crowd control failed very badly and resulted in many innocent American's being gunned down at Kent State. Perhaps Americans today have forgotten that horrific episode and the failures of the National Guard being used for crowd control to prop up at the barrels of machine guns very unpopular and unjust laws.
China learned that harsh lesson in Tiananmen Square, and it looks like the Republican-Tea Party's failed War on Drugs is pushing Chicago to be America's future Tiananmen Square.
To Smith in Oregon:
I would agree with you that the "war on drugs" has been and is an abysmal failure. Blaming it on the "Tea Party" and calling it a "Republican" thing it however totally INCORRECT.
Trying to associate policy initiated in 1969 with a movement comprised of Republican, Democrats, and Independents, started in Feb. 2009 is a disrespectful painting of concerned citizens with YOUR warped brush. While many people "paint what they see", it helps if your vision is improved with facts and reality, not clouded with hate...
The admittedly failed "war on drugs" has been supported by both Democrat and Republican administrations. It is also supported by the Obama administration, although like the war on terror, he refrains from calling it by it's current name (he thinks the name is counterproductive, I read that as "Politically Incorrect"). However The Fiscal Year 2011 National Drug Control Budget proposed by the Obama Administration will devote significant new resources to the prevention and treatment of drug abuse. Ijn effect, he's funding the "war on Drugs" under a new name....
It is, for the short term. For the long run you should start with running the NRA out of town.
"The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 18, 1878
The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States, except where expressly authorized by the Constitution or Congress.
What is happening to our country?"
The National Guard doesn't have to operate under "federal authority"... it can operate under (and is in large part funded by) state authority making it's use a law enforcement augmentation completely legal.
please i kno they should come and come to 79th street im only 16. and its very scary.i live 3 blocks from king drive and im losing people every week.