tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post5691178760210861998..comments2024-03-23T09:42:36.833-05:00Comments on Uptown Update: Shots Fired At Sheridan & Agatite, 1 ApprehendedUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-55549562881648550662010-11-04T15:27:13.704-05:002010-11-04T15:27:13.704-05:00Well put Big Daddy! And thank you for you 30 years...Well put Big Daddy! And thank you for you 30 years of service.<br /><br />Stef- Wow, really?!?! What bubble did you grow up in? You should go climb back into it. If you want to live on the outside with the rest of us I suggest you keep your mouth shut and refrain from posting comments until you get yourself educated.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17505221809944683658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-12453076386866167682010-11-03T14:54:54.155-05:002010-11-03T14:54:54.155-05:00OMG, when I first read Stef's post I thought s...OMG, when I first read Stef's post I thought she was a troll stirring the pot. Then I thought that perhaps she posted all that drivel in an ill fated attempt at humor.It's apparent that she is neither, that she's another misinformed person who doesn't have a clue. <br />The Constitution DOES guarantee the right to keep and bear arms Stef. The USSC said as much in their recent decision. You may not like that, you may not agree with it but that's the way it is. And as far as the regular citizen not needing one, as a Chicago Police Officer for almost thirty years, I strongly disagree. As a matter of fact I encourage ALL citizens to have at least one firearm within reach at all times. I consider it a basic tool that is essential to survival in today's troubled times. Essential in an society that repeatedly re-elects people who have absolutely no regard for the well being or safety of their constituents. In a society that has a "judicial system" that bends over backwards to accommodate the criminal element. And by "accommodate" I do not mean ensuring the basic freedoms we are all entitled to, I mean stacking the deck against the victim, the complainant in favor of the defendant at every possible chance. I don't know where you get your outlandish and outrageous ideas but they are as ridiculous as ridiculous can be. All Americans have the right to self defense. It is guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment. Try reading it some time. The entire Constitution. And don't quote the parts that YOU think matter and discard the rest. Read the whole thing. You are dead wrong on your assessment of guns in today's society. Dead wrong. Criminals LOVE people like you. They know that you will not possess the weapons that people need to fight back and that you probably would not use them if you did. <br />And to the poster that suggests banishing someone to a desert island if caught with an unregistered firearm, tell me of one single crime that registration has prevented. Tell me how registration has prevented one single criminal from obtaining a gun. Tell me what registration accomplishes besides enriching the coffers richard daley and his evil cabal.Big Daddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17185883277690070163noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-43316928084941596632010-11-03T08:44:09.243-05:002010-11-03T08:44:09.243-05:00Stef
You're beginning to sound just like one ...Stef<br /><br />You're beginning to sound just like one of my childhood friends who never thought he was hurting himself or anyone around him when he used heroin. I'd say he wrecked havoc on all of us: his friends, his family, most of all himself for several years before he O.D.'d his final time.UptownPitshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693423709058036893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-43664119320597123022010-11-02T21:31:57.498-05:002010-11-02T21:31:57.498-05:00Drugs and prostitution don't hurt others. Guns...Drugs and prostitution don't hurt others. Guns do. It's pretty simple. If a person wants to do drugs, they should be allowed to do so, if a person wants to sell or buy sex, they should be allowed to do so. Individuals don't have the right to kill others, and don't have the right to weapons designed to kill others.Stefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433454925157098903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-13058788180884723322010-11-02T10:32:52.020-05:002010-11-02T10:32:52.020-05:00To suggest the individuals with arms were a "...To suggest the individuals with arms were a "well-regulated militia" in colonial days is just wrong. It is still a "right of the people" to bear arms as has been validated throughout 200+ years of history. Sadly for you the Supreme Court has always taken that perspective and always will. <br /><br />Also, try growing up in a small town where hunting is an anti-poverty tool, then come back and say guns should be eliminated. Even those of us in favor of general gun control don't believe it eliminating the right to ANY fire arm. <br /><br />Again, you still contradict yourself in allowing individual rights for drugs, prostitution, but not for guns.Snekihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519347630793489082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-65502678824631926592010-11-02T10:13:58.520-05:002010-11-02T10:13:58.520-05:00Sneki,
The intent was never for individuals to be...Sneki,<br /><br />The intent was never for individuals to bear arms. Only members of a well-regulated militia. Those were never "inividuals", but members of our first military protecting us from invasions, they were organized; and because this could happen at anytime, the military slept in their own homes and needed their firearms with them. Today, such things are not practical, and the constitution was meant to be adapted as times changed. We have a well-regulated militia, the biggest in the world. Individuals never had the right to bear arms, not for protecting their private property and not for hunting.Stefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433454925157098903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-35570107928135841982010-11-02T07:13:09.391-05:002010-11-02T07:13:09.391-05:00The city needs cheap solutions,since there doesn&#...The city needs cheap solutions,since there doesn't seem to be any money for ANYTHING.The sad thing is,if you take drastic measures(like bringing back the loitering law,like threatening to send every gang member in Chicago to a deserted island if they don't stop the violence,like threatening to send ANYONE who's caught with an unregistered gun to a deserted island-the jails and prisons are not a deterrent,especially if they have a police record at the time),so-called leaders would call these things racist and unconstitutional.But these leaders have bodyguards 24/7 and aren't living in the middle of this nonsense.The city is broke,no money for more police,many programs are being cut due to lack of funds,police are being moved to so-called worse areas of the city,the thugs are moving from there to the North side,where many tend to let their gusrd down a lot more and continue to think,"nothing bad ever happens over here".Stop being so naive,people.One other thing,these thugs don't just know other thugs.Many of the ones in their family don't try to discourage them from this nonsense.These gang members are sons,daughters,nephews,nieces,parents,husbands,boyfriends,girlfriends,uncles,aunts.Fearless44https://www.blogger.com/profile/03981470887915883556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-19004149315612962432010-11-02T00:17:58.093-05:002010-11-02T00:17:58.093-05:00Portugal decriminalized the use of ALL drugs in 20...Portugal decriminalized the use of ALL drugs in 2001. Since then, both violent and non-violent crime has dropped, drug use has dropped, and the amount of people seeking treatment for drug use has doubled.ChiTownPhillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01218910479704410469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-80546925033047825602010-11-01T22:20:25.619-05:002010-11-01T22:20:25.619-05:00It's still the "right of the people"...It's still the "right of the people" not the state. The militia of the time when the Constitution was written were individual citizens, not organized and paid entities like the police or national defense forces. The intent has always been, and contrary to your hope, always will be for individuals to bear arms. You cannot say it's unconstitutional because that denies all history including that of the only interpreter that matters, the U.S. Supreme Court.<br /><br />That being said, I agree with Uptown about semi-automatics and there being limitations, but the original comment was no one should own guns. Having grown up in a small community where deer hunting was a part of life, denying guns will never be a reasonable solution.Snekihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519347630793489082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-12705213722565775582010-11-01T20:52:56.284-05:002010-11-01T20:52:56.284-05:00"What a great country it would be if our chil..."What a great country it would be if our children were regularly and legally exposed to mommy and daddy's coke and meth habits. Yikes!"<br /><br />Do you think they are not already?<br /><br />Legalizing drugs in no way implies that all of a sudden our society is going to turn into one big meth lab. The people who want to do drugs, do, and the ones that don't don't. Why should some drugs be illegal and others not? Why should pharmaceutical companies make profits off of synthetic drugs that can be and many times are more harmful than a natural, yet illegal drug? If an adult wants to get high in the privacy of their own home, shouldn't they be allowed to do that? Why are crack cocaine and powder cocaine laws so dramatically different? We arbitrarily criminalize whole sectors of our society, for what people want, and blame them for the system we have created. The issue of crime is very complicated, but just avoiding it doesn't make it better. There is a way to legitimize what people are getting shot over. The war on drugs is creating a war on our society, and the police can't do anything, you can't just lock up that many people; it's too big and we are already wasting too much money locking people up for drugs. The demand will never go away, it will never end. We can legalize drugs, and make legitimate business out of what our society so clearly wants, and isn't going to give up anytime soon.Stefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433454925157098903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-68590633358652600642010-11-01T20:40:40.539-05:002010-11-01T20:40:40.539-05:00"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to..."A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."<br /><br />Exactly, my point exactly. A well regulated militia, for the security of a free state. Not individuals, not for home protection, not for hunting. A well regulated militia, and we have one of those.Stefhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16433454925157098903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-73009971997786133602010-11-01T20:21:06.973-05:002010-11-01T20:21:06.973-05:00Alderman also have the ability to speak directly t...Alderman also have the ability to speak directly to commanders in their police district and request additional officers or that they target specific areas with patrols. Of course given the shortage of cops they can't request tons of new cops...and their request may be denied..but it's still within their realm.Uptown Risinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00403684989803659913noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-40094707351280980552010-11-01T19:10:52.622-05:002010-11-01T19:10:52.622-05:00>> Can a new alderman make a difference?
He...>> Can a new alderman make a difference?<br /><br />Here are a couple immediate things:<br /><br />1) Alderman can put tremendous pressure on landlords. How 'bout a new city inspection for this or that every day until you comply with getting your tenants in shape? Concerned citizens, block clubs, business groups, etc. should have a much louder voice with the next Alderman.<br /><br />2) Alderman don't have control over the CPD, but they surely can help or hinder their efforts. The current alderman doesn't seem to care about crime and, from hearsay sources, is not interested in making the CPDs job easier in Uptown.<br /><br />3) Funding/Zoning power. Over the longer-term, an alderman can have a lot of power through zoning, funding, tifs, etc. to determine which businesses, not-for-profits, etc. can exist in certain locations. They also control liquor licenses.<br /><br />As for the "legalize drugs" person, while I personally an in favor of legalizing pot and also having far more of a "drug abuse is a disease rather than a felony" mentality: a) this is a federal, not a city issue, b) no one is seriously considering legalizing meth, crack, etc. and c) per discussions with the CPD, pot sales are tiny in comparison to the harder stuff (e.g., crack) in our neighborhood. "Legalize it" is a slogan, not a serious proposal or solution to our immediate issues.Elhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12776803510720196648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-90155612564571944752010-11-01T19:06:01.734-05:002010-11-01T19:06:01.734-05:00I want to know what can a new alderman do? I am ho...I want to know what can a new alderman do? I am hopeful that changes will be made when we do get someone new but the way things are going I am not sure how much power that person can have. Most of these problems were created by allowing such a high concentration of low income housing in combination with these drug clinics. i am hopeful but not sure how long it will take.RandiRajahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14828075985781715216noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-79450897148346381032010-11-01T18:22:19.559-05:002010-11-01T18:22:19.559-05:00"Take guns away, and legalize the things peop..."Take guns away, and legalize the things people want to do and we are safe."<br /><br />The problem is not what's legal or not. The problem is the lack of aggressive police power to enforce social order. As a liberal society, we have stripped law enforcement of most of its teeth.JQLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03710353988600174428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-61433806869210122902010-11-01T18:09:56.682-05:002010-11-01T18:09:56.682-05:00"I have watched my condo's value drop 40%..."I have watched my condo's value drop 40% in 3 years but have continued to pay my mortgage but if the 40% drop in value wasnt enough to convince me to strategically default on my condo and get the hell out of here"<br /><br />Defaulting on your condo can lead to a lot of issues. If you want to get away from an upside down condo, you might want to consider bankruptcy or a short sale.JQLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03710353988600174428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-35800393685145029172010-11-01T18:05:58.987-05:002010-11-01T18:05:58.987-05:00Alderman can build and support the alliances neede...Alderman can build and support the alliances needed to implement proven violence reduction strategies, which are working now in Garfield Park (Harrison District). See: http://www.nnscommunities.org<br /><br />When shooters are charged under state and local statutes, they can move in and out of the system with relative ease. But, if law enforcement is coordinated at all levels to build and make federal charges stick, the drop in violent crime is precipitous. Why? Defendants can't plead out on federal charges the way they can on state charges. The prospect of doing federal time has been shown to have a deterrent effect.Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01920015898307727966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-78981959853870701882010-11-01T18:01:19.934-05:002010-11-01T18:01:19.934-05:00@ChipDouglas,
There are many people in America (p...@ChipDouglas,<br /><br />There are many people in America (perhaps a minority of voters, however) who believe the Constitution does NOT guarantee the right of every civilian to carry a semi automatic. Just like the Bible, the Constitution is open to interpretation. I'm pretty sure I learned that in pubic school but it might have been the private university that followed.<br /><br />Seriously, can we be civil while we discuss what we all want, a peaceful life in Uptown/Chicago?Mama on Agatitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06325542725248087562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-75166469832933887142010-11-01T17:54:17.782-05:002010-11-01T17:54:17.782-05:00@MsBarry17 Color is irrelevant in this discussion,...@MsBarry17 Color is irrelevant in this discussion, absolutely. I was thinking about what one of the candidates for alderman said to my friend who asked what could be done and was told something to the effect that her concerns (crime) were "rich white people" concerns. This particular candidate is black but Schiller has said much the same many times.Mama on Agatitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06325542725248087562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-52832850153450153772010-11-01T17:04:28.379-05:002010-11-01T17:04:28.379-05:00In Response to Uptown's commment: We are not r...In Response to Uptown's commment: We are not rich white people, we are just a family trying to live in a home we can't possibly sell. What does being rich or white have anything to do with the surge of violence in the area? How is that even constructive to this blogged conversation?<br /><br />I'm just so sick of the race thing. Black, white, hispanic, asian, rich OR poor; we're all in the same neighborhood facing the same problems. All of the above call Uptown home and each of them I'm sure feel the same helplessness at watching the violence on their streets.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08375131329146994483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-25953246623409206912010-11-01T17:03:12.548-05:002010-11-01T17:03:12.548-05:00"No one should have guns, it's not consti..."No one should have guns, it's not constitutional"<br /><br />Seriously? What public school taught you this?<br /><br />Just in case any kids are reading this blog the Second Amendment of our Constitution reads..."A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."<br /><br />Now, do your home work, study the document, and get to know your rights before people like "Stef" take them away. <br /><br />Scary.chipdouglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00827669478369792692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-20255396874417227892010-11-01T16:59:32.204-05:002010-11-01T16:59:32.204-05:00yeah today when I was outside for a fire drill 2 s...yeah today when I was outside for a fire drill 2 shots were heard all the staff and kids started running towards the doors to go in. right after the shots were heard 3 people called the police the construction worker,a teacher, and a school staff<br />all the little kids were scared some fell down some started crying i was mad because yesterday their was another shotting on Sunyside one died and their is still blood on the side walk. Over all I feel sorry the little kids had to witness that event.chelyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06032495972788096673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-77694295643502436092010-11-01T16:49:41.651-05:002010-11-01T16:49:41.651-05:00Can a new alderman make a difference? What are sa...Can a new alderman make a difference? What are say, three things the new one can do to improve Uptown? Three things that would actually be within his or her power? <br /><br />I'm thinking one might be a moratorium on new social services in the neighborhood. Would it be fair to say Uptown has it's fair share of methadone clinics and more? <br /><br />Do Aldermen have any power over the CPD? Is there anything one can do to increase police presence in the neighborhood? <br /><br />What about getting gang members out of public housing. Would that be as simple as enforcing existing laws?<br /><br />I don't know what to do. We are not rich white people, we are just a family trying to live in a home we can't possibly sell. We love our neighbors, our street, the lake... There's a lot to love about Uptown when you're not scared of being shot.Mama on Agatitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06325542725248087562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-20656253286924014042010-11-01T16:43:09.113-05:002010-11-01T16:43:09.113-05:00Steph,
Please tell me your post is sarcasm...plea...Steph,<br /><br />Please tell me your post is sarcasm...please tell me you're not that naieve.<br /><br />Take guns away...if only it were that simple. Owning guns is NOT unconstitutional. However, it is illegal if not properly registered. Using guns to shoot a people is illegal and unforgivable. <br /><br />Legalize everything and the problems go away? What? So we should just make all drugs legal? Yeah, that would solve all of our problems and everything would go away. What a great country it would be if our children were regularly and legally exposed to mommy and daddy's coke and meth habits. Yikes!<br /><br />Martial law does not give the military carte blanche to open fire on US citizens...you've been watching too much television. It's designed to restore order to an out of control, dangerous and violent situation. Which is what we currently have in our neighborhood.<br /><br />So, here's hoping that you were writing in a sarcastic vein...to think you are serious is frankly, quite terrifying.40 Year Old Studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01166221871422514898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1957537260422450632.post-66745014471079890872010-11-01T16:34:34.695-05:002010-11-01T16:34:34.695-05:00Stef,
While I'm sympathetic to your comment ab...Stef,<br />While I'm sympathetic to your comment about drugs, especially since there is a very strong argument about the economic impact to the Drug Lords (could it actually make Mexico peaceful? nah...) and the links to violence, the no guns part is way off base. Have you ever lived anywhere where people hunt? Further, criminals will always find ways to get guns. That will never change, so I have a hard time telling people they can't use a weapon in self-defense, even if I personally choose not to do so.<br /><br />I find your argument also somewhat contradictory. You believe the government should not interfere with our rights related to drugs and prostitution and we shouldn't criminalize it. But, on guns, the government should deny rights (which obviously requires overturning the Second Amendment, something which will never happen in our lifetimes) and criminalize gun ownership? Ownership shouldn't be the crime...Snekihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07519347630793489082noreply@blogger.com