Buckeye Reporter

Earlier this month, Chicago experienced a weekend where at least 71 people were shot, resulting in nine fatalities. This followed another weekend just two weeks prior, where 44 individuals were shot, with eight succumbing to their injuries.

In a city grappling with high crime rates and limited police response, many law-abiding residents are considering arming themselves for self-defense. The Chicago Tribune editorial board recently addressed this trend, expressing concern over the increasing number of armed citizens taking action against assailants.

“Worryingly, we’re seeing more signs of that phenomenon in Chicago, with three separate episodes over the last weekend in which would-be victims proved to be both armed and willing to fire at their assailants,” the board wrote.

The current situation has led nearly 200,000 Illinois residents to purchase firearms in the first five months of 2024 alone. Police resources have been stretched thin due to budget cuts influenced by "defund the police" movements, including the elimination of 400 officer positions in 2020. Reports indicate that more than half of high-priority emergency calls go unanswered.

Chris Cheng, a competitive shooter and former History Channel Top Shot champion, articulated this sentiment during a 2021 congressional hearing: “If I can’t have law enforcement there, then it is a rational conclusion that individual citizens like myself would opt to utilize my Second Amendment right to purchase a firearm and use that firearm in lawful and legal self-defense.”

The Tribune's editorial highlighted several incidents where armed citizens defended themselves against attackers. They noted that while some residents may feel safer with firearms, they believe it creates an unhealthy environment when gun ownership becomes commonplace.

“We’re seeing more of these cases... But the majority of Chicagoans... don’t feel any safer when they read stories of good-guy-with-a-gun responses to street crime… Overall, it’s not a healthy environment in a city — where by definition people live close together — when gun-packing citizens become more the norm than the exception,” the editorial stated.

NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) disagrees with this perspective. They argue that self-defense is a natural right and emphasize the importance of responsible firearm ownership and training. NSSF has also petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Illinois' ban on certain firearms and magazines under the Protect Illinois Communities Act signed by Governor J.B. Pritzker in January 2023.

As Chicago prepares for the Democratic National Convention, security concerns are mounting. Planners are even considering moving some events online due to safety issues reminiscent of past violence during conventions held in the city.

The focus remains on how officials will handle community safety amid rising crime rates. Editorials from media outlets should prioritize holding criminals accountable rather than criticizing law-abiding citizens who choose to protect themselves legally.

Republished with permission from NSSF.

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