Chicago's Blame Game

yes i think crime is going to go up so much more when school is out that is going to be when crime will go up and it is about money n drugs on the street not money drugs n guns it money n drugs any and everyone knows that so provide the drugs and there wont be a reason to get a gun id be bout drugs and money and i think we as a nation on how far we have come should leagalize it but not just that have classes from drug addictsf that drug to show how it messed up there lives and tax drugs or not that but leagalize weed not just in calli but in everystate that would put a end to it and a new america is born

Good job reporting the killing problems in Chicago and would be a good idea to show and educate our Chicago youth by showing and explaining about it if we can get a copy of the clip My email address is info4u@comcast.net
Thank you

I married a man who had been shot in the neck as a kid because he wouldn't give a gang member a quarter. This happened in Chicago in 1968. So you see, this is not something new. Violence was out of control even then. They have not been able to disolve these gangs. It's absurd that they have not come up with a plan of control. Maybe it's because Richard Daley Jr., like his predecessor, Richard Daley Sr. is not concern how many young African American children are killed. Chicago is more notorious with gang violence than any major city in the United States. That includes L.A.. The Disciple and Black Stone Rangers gangs originated in Chicago and were contained there for years before springing up in other states such as CA and NY. Even Jessie Jackson's consorted with the leader of the Black Stone Ranger before becoming extremely popular. I'm glad you are making an issue of it. Now something will have to be done about it.

I saw your program report on Saturday night, and was struck by the ommission of the drug trade. I live in a suburb close to the city of Chicago, and a police officer in my town told me that about a year ago, "someone dumped a big load of pot and heroin on the city", meaning Chicago. My suburb has seen an uptick in crime since last summer, though thankfully no one has been killed – but the crimes,some of which involve physical violence, seem to have as their goal the acquisition of quick cash – I would think for drugs, as we've also experienced an increase in drug arrests.

It's just amazing how Americans think, analyze, and react. Chicago and Mayor Daley have implemented some very stringent gun laws and still this is not working.

When will America as a whole understand this? (I surmise "never")

The problem is two fold it's just that simple; family environment / community and fitting justice.

You can't save the majority of gang bangers and what you can save isn't worth the effort, it just isn't cost effective.

If you want to save the good kids, impose an 'automatic death penalty case" for anyone who kills or maims another in the commission of a crime.

White, black, yellow kids it doesn't matter, whats happening is simply a result of poor parenting, and a lack of justice with real consequences. I promise you if you truly want "Change", enforce the laws, and increase the severity of punishment .

What is happening in Chicago is unreasonable, so the solution must be unreasonable. Keep pretending that guns kill folks, only people kill other people to simple it's stupid.

While the police are responsible for investigating, the parents and the community are responsible for the behavior. The parents (predominantly single mothers) raise the children and provide shelter while the community shields them from accountability/justice. Until we hold the perpertrators accountable and the parents/family/community stop turning their heads the killings will proliferate.

I can fully relate to this story growing up in Metro-Atlanta area. Although 37yrs old now with a family, I can deeply identify with the anxiety and anguish the youth of today are experiencing in such a volitale environment. And to be more specific, its more of a male violence issue than anything else.

The question I would have wanted to ask Abbie in this report is what is the percentage of single mother households in the areas of high crime and murder rates in Chicago.

As I do commend the Chicago Police Dept. for its efforts to curb the violence, I compare their efforts to a bandaid on cancer. The root/foundational problem stems from an abscence of strong male fathering/mentorship to help lead and guide these energic & hungry male youths into their "rite of passage" into honorable manhood (before the gang leader or drug dealer offers their program).

I have been following this story and one thing seems to standout to me but it doesn't get enough attention.. Let's find out how many young children are dying in all large cities accurately and let's make this information important. We need to do something about allowing so many guns. We need political power to reduce guns sales nationally. Getting guns and producing so many guns is a health hazard just like any other. So called better communities don't live in fear because they don't have the worry of guns, but if they did have this worry I wonder if we we do something about it then. Gun control is needed.

ok do a survey go n ask 1000 high school kids what life is about most of em will say money n drugs well maybe not say it but think it not money drugs n guns we cant give people money but poeple can spend money on drugs and with that what the point of guns when u have drugs ????i ask u that

Dear Ms. Abbie,

if you want the true culprit of the problem in Chicago...play and replay the segment of the police chief and keep in mind that his comments are about children. His words; "elminate, fight, attack, get rid of" is the evidence of the problem with the police department and the youth.

He is talking about grown men in authority, "attacking with laser point precision" children. How then will these children turn to them, trust them, or even look up to them?

these "children" are treated with hatred by the police, are unwanted by their community and often by their own familes.

Their self-hatred and anger is surely a reflection of how they have been treated by the adults who are suppose to love and protect them...not make plans to eliminate and attack them.

You have many news archives that will show you how police treat these young children...with brutal force and disrepect. There is no other way for these "children" ever to be, until they receive something different from the adults they look up to.

How these children value themselves is how their communities have valued these children....plain and simple!

I reside in Toronto (Canada), and we are dealing with this very same ordeal, and the victims and suspects are getting younger and younger (just this past week we lost another 14 year old).

I too believe, that the main reason for this epidemic, regardless of race, or class, is this phantom-like 'Code of Silence' manner. It has crept up upon us as parents, and has become a way of life for our youth.

Toronto recently had a movie festival on documentary films, and a group of college students created a film that has received noted attention, for touching on this very same 'snitch' mindset (http://www.humber.ca/stories/hotdocs.htm)

This mindset is not only killing our youth, but perhaps in fact the very patience and/or morales of the police, who are trying to solve crimes, and protect communities. Therefore crimes go unsolved, and suspects remain at large, and why..........because no one will dare speak a word.

I pray that you will continue to research this matter, so that parents, community workers, school boards, police departments, and governments, will stop the 'blame game', and in turn start speaking to our youth, so that they in turn will speak up.

Hi Abbie,
I just finished reading what you have posted on this story, as well as watching the footage that was included on the newscast earlier tonight.

Its nice to see CNN talking about domestic issues of this nature again, however, reporting, and investigating it are only the beginning.

To me, we across our nation are lost in a cycle of watching things happen somewhere else, even if it is something that happens here in the States versus overseas in some far off place. We are so desensitized to whats going on from every angle, that the only people who really matter in these situations either are dead anyways, or mourning them. There is just such a great disconnect with the majority of people who see this stuff and dont live it. Perhaps we are going to have to fall apart even more as a nation before something gets our fullest attention.......but honestly, do we want nearly unconscienable societal breakdown before we deal honestly with this stuff?

I think its not very hard, at the core anyway, to find the solutions to resolving these problems. The only real questions we have to ask is, whose problems are these? And how truly honest are we willing to be about something that has plagued our nations populus for as long as I can remember.

Honestly, if I, we, you, us, they, or/and or anyone else want the violence to stop, you need not eliminate drugs, control guns, or spend time investigating statistics that can be manipulated to serve any purpose. What we all must do, at least from an adult perspective, afterall, the adults are supposedly the examples from young people......is to simply create an environment where anyone who has acted criminally can come forward, and explain to the rest of those concerned their motivations.

It clearly isnt enough to interview people, families, or members of the community who witness and live much of these things. In order to solve any problem involving people, you cannot simply punish someone, and expect them to be reformed by fear when they dont even fear dying, or value life itself.

As any health professional, psychologist, grandmother, sociologist, or anthropologist will tell us, the more you expose a human being to fear of anything, the less they react to it, and the more you force them into using their basic survival instincts, which according to the basic laws of nature are species-preservation, and self-preservation.

If we truly want any real answers to the questions we have about what is wrong with our society on any scale, we only need be willing to ask our children, and be capable, and willing to listen to what they have to say, no matter how truthfully, and painfully honest what they may have to say to us may be to hear. Our children are our best indication of what kind of communities, what kind of society, and what kind of values we have, and when we dont listen to them, just as we would want them to listen to us for their supposed welfare........our societal welfare most definitely will bare the costs, and in turn, turn that back on our children, as they are the most vulnerable to our inadequacies.

Very simply stated, if you want to know whats wrong, and honestly, just ask the children what it is that they arent getting from you that they need to stop acting out, and such.

Granted, they cant have everything or they would become spoiled, but where do we as a society cross the line between giving our child the attention they deserve, and pursuing our own selfishness, and trying to boster status-driven reputations. What is most important to us, our families, or our money? Afterall, we are a nation driven by greed, power, and social status.........it is one of the most fundamental aspects of who we are as humans, as social creatures. Where do we draw the line between sanity, and insanity in a world, in a nation that keeps moving and changing what is acceptable to cater to our thriving desires for money, power, and wealth.

Children dying in the streets is unacceptable. I am glad to hear some of the people are able to recognise and put the blame where it belongs. Lack of family and community values, and lack of involvement, and perhaps more so, the gangs, is the problem.
It is hard to have aspirations when gang members and thugs are your role models. It is a shame that so many of our children are growing up without any family structure. Parents need to get involved with their children and the police to put an end to this madness.
Many fo these crimes and murders are going unsolved because the community will not work with the police to identify criminals. Parents should be teaching their children to work with the police not fear them. If "children" are commiting these crimes and murders, they should be attacked "with laser point precision".
It is unfortunate that so many people try to lay the blame on lack of gun control. The city of Chicago has had a handgun ban since 1982. This has outlawed handgun ownership in the city of Chicago by law abiding citizens for more than 25 years.
Criminals, by defenition do not obey laws. How do more restrictions on gun ownership and second amendment rights affect criminals that do not obey laws or obtain firearms legally? How much more restriction can you have than to totally ban handguns as Chicago has already done?
Please get involved with your family and your community, and work with the Police to put an end to this violence.

GUNS DO NOT KILL PEOPLE, People KILL People. That one sentence is the solution to not only the Chicago spasm of murder but to all American mass murder phonemena.

I am a Chicago native. In the early eighties, I used to get robbed and beat because I refused to join a gang. I joined the Marines, and eliminated that problem. What I feel Chicago residents must do now is the same thing I did, learn to take control of the situation. The ten year old on the show stated he is afraid of guns. Guns are a by-product of the problem. A society that cannot defend themselves will always be a society in peril. The "gun control" in Chicago that was instituted by Mayor Byrne and still exist has not worked. It did not work then, and is not working now. I think by training the community to defend itself against attack instead of reacting to its problems will produce better results. This does include arming the community, and allowing its people the same rights as forty-nine other states do.

I currently reside in chicago in what would be considered one of the "not so nice areas" here. For the last three years chicago has been going through a transition – a transition that many seemed to have forgotten about-chicago power that be decided several years ago to tear down all "project" buildings and displace the many families and dare i say criminal elements contained in those buildings. While the family(good)element strived to do better, the criminal element found themselves displaced into a community that either had little criminal activity or imposed on other gang territory in the new community and so as you can see both situations spur a drastic increase in all facets of criminal activity in those communities...Now the communities from which the criminal element was displaced have a void and the surrounding gangs are battling for those territories...Add to that a crumbling economy thats deteriorating day by day,coming summer vacation,dwindling after school activities and you have a recipe for disaster for these kids and adults as well.

I am a 63 year old black male. I was really surprised to see how many respondents understood what the real problem is in Chi. Single parent families (which is no family) poor education, poverty and ,whether you believe it or not, gang banger related music. This gives these young people a family they don't get at home. Many with parents just as bad as they are. When you speak to a thirty year old grandmother who can't put a sentence together, you begin to understand what the authorities have to deal with. Some people might want to help but are ashamed that they can't articulate well enough and may be looked down on. As a young man, I had access to five shotguns and four hand guns. never touched any unless my dad said OK and I never wanted to kill anyone. Times have changed.

Alot of very insightful, knowledgable, first-hand, intelligent posts here. I very much appreciate the call for strict sentencing of offenders that have reached the age of MAJORITY. Many of the troubled youths are products of the monumental struggle of battling through a very difficult cycle that puts them far behind from the get-go.

My question: Too many "known" gangs and their members. Would society ever get to the point that it would be willing to temporarily sacrifice its' civil rights to weed out the bad elements in society? Are police and the courts prevented from harrassing, detaining, intimidating, pursuing these cancers on society that destroy areas and cities?

I grew up on Chicago's south side. And I think, a simple answer but complicated socio-cultural implementation can reduce this scourge. When parents, meaning a father and mother spend much more time with their children the problem will go away. I think, courts are too willing to allow mothers to go it alone. If courts would stop automatically deferring to mothers “cultural instinct� and start giving children to their fathers they will not have time to gangbang cause they need a job. As we can see the mothers-courts’ nexus is not working. In a nutshell, courts and mothers are mainly to blame. These ill-equipped mothers need to give children to the fathers in most cases.

I'm from Massachusetts but have lots of friends in chicago and gone to Chicago. I also have been writing a book on the history of the development of gangs in america. From my research, i have come to see that violance that is here today has been around sence the 1960's but sence it has been only in the ghetto communities the main stream population does not care till it comes to THERE community. The police cant help because the are a REACTIONRY group not a PREVENITIVE group. And the government WILL NOT do much to help because it is VERY BIG business. Just think about all the cops that the system has working on these 'problems' and how many more they are going to employ. All this media coverage will only put more grant money in police hands without results. The same goes on all over the this nation and i have this happen here in mass. as i use to work for an nonprofit organization to prevent gang activity. We had to compete aginst the cops for grants and they had NO RESULTS just ARRESTS. Crime is BIG MONEY, its the american way........ (To many stories to write.)

The reason for the killings are simple, America has failed to understand that when children are bombarded with images that teach hate, inequality and just recently blatant racism they are going to learn to hate themselves and others. Hate directed inward leads to suicide and when directed outwardly homicide. If we are honest with ourselves for a change, then we would recognize that children in those communities are victims. They raised themselves while we sat idlely by knowing what the recipe would makes in those communities, whose fathers were put in prison ( legalized slavery), instead of hospital for drug addiction related crimes. Society drives the getaway car when it comes to crime committed in those commmunities Those communities are far from liberated and the disproportionate rate of incarceration, drug addiction are the symptoms associated with undiagnosed and untreated mental illness. Statistically 85% of residents living in distressed communities are mentally ill, seek self medication of drugs most likely because of the stigma.

I shake my head as I hear how we brag about how we are so advanced, yet it seems in practice we are in the dark ages, with our community practices, While we sit and spy on China, yet cannot spy into our communities. If we minded our nations needs, the most vulnerable in our nation would be empowered not the powerful as we did with the banks, who our nation should have let fall. Let them fall down and lift up the least of our brothers and sisters who we must confront in a way that injects value into their lives. When those communities and its fragile familles crash they are not given a bail-out, and welfare is a trap designed by thieves to make a trap for fools. Never-the=less when our nation in its liberation of a foreign country, where there was no " Give us Liberty or Death" battle cry, throw away billions of dollars and complain about giving their own citizen a dollar living on the street, taking drugs that God provided them to use so that in the dead of winter when we all drove past toward our comfortable homes , it warm crack that kept them warm, and made the ground comnfortable. However, if that isnt a true expression of hate, I do not know what it is, bit it sure is not forgiveness, love and genuine positive regard.

Don't you see the flaws in this, seriously liberals of Chicago don't mind abortions, yet they are concerned about innocent humans being killed by errant or intentional bullets.

Why not implement Capital Punishment on those guilty of murder and manslaughter by firearm? This needs to be on the table.

So a 15 or 16 year old bust a cap in the "crip" down the street, and a 9 year old get killed as well on his bike. Whats going to happen to the 15-16 year old? 20 years maybe possibly less; in a prison environment none-the-less. WOW that's going to amend all that's been done and grow a fine upstanding contributing individual for society to release 20 years from now. And by the way we all financially pay for the fruitless violent criminal prison rehab experiment in the form of tax dollars.

Live by violence die by violence, the justice system needs to "fry and gas" the lil dirt bag hoodlums who kill and maim.

I keep reading ban guns, restrict them more.. What a ridiculous statement, not ever a thought to the fact that the restriction will only deter law-abiding citizens from owning, there's a reason we call folks criminals, they are the ones that don't live by laws, you know the guys that will always obtain guns.

Sure is strange my state, is one of the LEAST regulated states in all of the US in regards to guns. We can carry openly, everyone carries open or concealed. We don't have this problem. I wonder why.

Government can't get rid of 20 million illegals, what makes everyone think Government is going to take away 100-150 million firearms. You think students are getting slaughtered in Chicago, just wait and see what more infringements on the 2nd will get us.

Again it's very very simple, I will say it slowly...

C A P I T A L – P U N I S H M E N T execute those who murder your already murdering when you participate in abortions, problem is gang-bangers had a choice at some point, the unborn didn't. Whats so hard to grasp???

Diane,

Made the same observations. But put yourself in that policeman's shoes, everyday he witnesses death, everyday...

It's a war zone, the soldiers are the offspring of individuals that think fathering illegitimate children make one a man, and a gullible woman who thinks the bum with no job, no ambition, but sporting a penis is her Knight in Shining Armor.

I wonder how many arrest are made of known gang members for less serious charges that are capable of murder, arrest them today and out next week. Man that's got to be frustrating, but when you legislate from the bench what do you expect, no wonder Chicago's finest talk in semi military jargon.

Americans are to much into "feel" instead of "Think", it's strange just how dumbed down the majority of America has become.

How much does an automatic weapon cost? what are the procedures to lawfully obtain one? How difficult is it to make a weapon capable of automatic fire? What are the penalties for such a venture?

When you do the research you'll find that media makes a bunch of stuff up, AK-47's in the streets, please... What kid is going to spend 10-18 thousand dollars to purchase a registered Automatic weapon over a nice car? What Chief Law Enforcement Officer is going to sign his forms to allow this? How does one even imagine BATF will clear the purchaser who is 17 with a criminal record..

Sensationalism sells, and it sells well, keep drinking the Kool-aid folks.

Doesn't help matters much when your Governor and Mayor are white collar gangsters either...

First off, your contact us page is not currently functioning...please check it out.

Second, I have two big tips: 1 – Make a huge button on your page or enlarge the contact us/tips area and let people know that they can come to your website and anonymously post TIPS about incidents or about situations or about things they have witnessed. PLEASE EMPHASIZE THIS! The Youth community is very very active online, emphasizing this will drive the correct traffic to your site!!! I heard of the site only once, at the end of the Don Lemon news, and I didn't even catch the whole name so I had to do a google search for CNN SIU. NOT EASY ENOUGH!!! Leave the site posted on the news at top or bottom of screen will help!!!!!

2 – YOU ARE TALKING TO THE WRONG PEOPLE!!!! The parents, the police, the school, Mayor Dailley? Come on....You will have 100% better chance talking with the people in the street corners and the ones "hanging out" in the neighborhood...May seem more dangerous, but you can't expect to get the news of the street, from everyone who is not from the streets. It will give way more answers specially since most people would LOVE to be on tv. Ask those questions to all of them and you might get better witnesses and responses as to what is going on.

-DV

Excuse me if I don't shed a tear for these young killers in Chicago. Fifteen years ago, four of them spent the day drinking beer and smoking pot while waiting for the opportunity to pounce on their 72 year old prey. They thought it easier to rob my father for the money needed to pay legal fines that would prevent the mother of one of them, from losing her house. In the end, they killed my father. It doesn't matter that it happened on a dirt road in Aurora, CO. It doesn't matter that these killers had been in trouble time-and-again. It doesn't matter that they expressed remorse and found the Lord for the first time in their lives, after they were locked up. It doesn't matter that none of them came forward in the three years prior to their capture. It doesn't matter that the shooter, you know the tough one, has become a jail-house lawyer who is constantly exercising one appeal after another. The good news is that he will never see the light of day. What I will never understand is how these young killers can be so heartless. How did they become soul-less? You can't blame everything on the parents. I believe some of these young killers are just empty shells who have not fully developed into human-beings. Excuse me if I don't shed a tear because I am all cried out!

I AM PUZZLED, THAT LOOKING AT THE COMPARATIVE STATS VIS A VIS CHICAGO & L.A.(WHICH HAS A MUCH WORSE, MORE COMPLEX GANG CULTURE)IS IT NOT OBVIOUS SOMETHING IS BEING DONE RIGHT IN L.A. FROM WHICH CHICAGO NEEDS TO LEARN AND APPLY HYPER QUICK!? THE L.A. ADMINISTRATION IS APPLYING A PARALLEL SOCIO-ECON-CULTURAL PROGRAM IN COMPLETE COORDINATION WITH THE THE POLICE ACTION DOWN TO THE SUB NEIGHBORHOOD AND SUB PRECINCT STREET LEVEL; BOTH CHICAGO AND L.A. POLICE ARE PROBABLY DOING COMPARABLE EFFORTS,AS POLICE ONLY. YET, WITHOUT A PARALLEL SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRAM LIKE THE ONE IN L.A.,THAT PRE-EMPTS, ANTICIPATES AND APPLY A PANOPLY OF SPECIFIC SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRAMS RIGHT DOWN TO THE SUB NEIGHBORHOOD LEVEL, CHICAGO IS BEING SWAMPED, WHEREAS, BY COMPARISON, L.A. IS GETTING AHEAD & PRE-EMPTING THE SAME PROBLEMS.MUCH LIKE THE WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN,NO SOLUTION IS POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SOCIO-ECON CULTURAL COMPONENT.THERE IS NO PURELY MILITARY SOLUTION.
"THE REASON FOR THIS IS SIMPLE.IF THE COMMUNITIES NEEDS ARE BEING IGNORED, THOSE "IN AUTHORITY", HAVE NO CREDIBILITY WITH A POPULATION THAT FINDS ITSELF ABANDONED TO THE VERY SAME MARAUDERS, WHO ARE, IN FACT, THE CREATION OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC FORCES SHAPED AND UNLEASHED WITH DEADLY AND MERCILESS EFFECT, BY THESE SELF SAME AUTHORITIES. ABSENT ANY SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROGRAMS, EVIDENCING ANY HUMAN CARE OR CONCERN THAT DAILY DEMONSTRATES A KNOWING, CARING PROGRAMMATIC PATH, SHOWING A WAY OUT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONUNDRUM, NOT OF THEIR OWN MAKING; WHY WOULD ANYONE CO-OPEREATE AGAINST THOSE SAME MARAUDERS WHO RAVISH THE VERY LIVES OF PEOPLE, HOLDING WHAT LITTLE PEOPLE HAVE, THEIR OWN LIVES, HOSTAGE TO ABANDONMENT AND CONSEQUENT HOPLESSNESS. HOW
CAN WE EXPECT PEOPLE TO CO-OPERATE AGAINST THE
APPARENT PARTNERS(THE RAVAGERS,THE MARAUDERS) OF THOSE IN AUTHORITY, WHO LEAVE THEM, RUNNING AMOK BECAUSE THEY,(THE MARAUDERS & RAVAGERS)
HAVE MOST ACUTELY FELT AND EXPERIENCED THIS ABANDONMENT IN EVERY DETAIL OF THEIR LIVES FROM THE FIRST MOMENTS OF THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS."
I AM QUOTING HERE FROM A BOOK I AM WRITING AS A LIFELONG WITNESS TO THE "PITILESS ECOSYSTEM OF THE ABANDONED, INVISIBLE, DISSED AND MARGINALIZED 4/5THS WORLD OF INNER CITY 'GHETTO' AMERICA."

it' is the mindset of people lke Paul, Jeff, Annette and manoy others I scanned through that peretuate hate and murder by believing such things as the "right" person should enforce more "wrong."

All I can say is when the day comes that we who judge are being judged, that we accept the penalities we are so willing to condemn the children with and then accept the blame for pointing the finger away from our own obligation to value ourchildren......However, in focusing on the finger we miss all the "heavenly glory" of just finding the kindness within ourselves to at least want for our children what we want for ourselves.

I am in total agreement with Chris Backstrom's comment...except for spendng time investigating statistics....I say spend time learning the names of the youth and simply addressing them by it while speaking to them with sincere regard for them as people.

TEACH RESPECT BY GIVING RESPECT.

Sorry Diana but after spending 4 combat tours in SWA, there are two things that I have learned the hard way.

1. You can't negotiate look at Pakistan today and what negotiating has done for them. Your not going to turn as many gang-bangers as your gonna save mam'.

2. The people that matter, don't mind.  And the one's that do mind don't matter.

After watching the moving story live on tv, I think its time for everyone to stand up, not just the people in chicago. Chicago police are right, they are not the only city struggling with teen violence. I am currently a student In Savannah Georgia and I am witness to much of the same violence. Just a few weeks ago a 14 year old got caught between gunfire and lost his life. rumor has it he was affiliated with a gang. but none the less, something needs to be done. Keep the kids in school and out of jail. take a look at any press release by the savannah police dept, the majority of the criminals are under 21!!!! Its time for the community to pull together and save the future of our youth!

[...] Blame Game Chicago's Blame Game – CNN Special Investigations Unit – CNN.com Blogs Police say nearly half of the student killings in the Chicago Public School district this school [...]

I used to live in the North side of Chicago and I am saddend about the image that Chicago has developed over the last few years. I am just thinking, isn't this the place where Mr. OBAMA was the senator and the COMMUNITY ORGANIZER for many years. I may not be politically correct buy just asking ARE THOSE THE RESULTS AND HIS ACHIEVMENT?

Abbie, it's the no snitch rule in the killing zones! $1,000.00 for information for the conviction of a killer. Raise it to $20,000. or more root out the gang bangers. Mayor Daley has spent $$MILLIONS to get the olympics and the family and neighborhood puts up $1,000. to find the homicidal manaics. Have police seige the hoods were the killings are happening, stop every kid check his personal belongings for just one thing GUNS!!! Sure some idiot will cry about constitutional rights if you prevent one more child from dying its worth every penny. The parent suing might be the one whos child is saved. Mayor Daley is responsible the problemn gets worse and worse with no response except to call the kids DROPOUTS! Deplorable Mayor!

It's the no snitch rule that's killing those young Blacks

Gun laws will never work. You can't control guns with laws unless criminals start following laws.

Illinois has some of the strictest gun laws in the country and some of the worst gun crimes. Looks like those laws don't really work, and more won't work.
The people must speak up when they see a crime, but there is a code of "STOP SNITCHING" which really means, if you talk...We will kill you too!

Until the law abiding people are allowed the right to have legal guns and can legally carry concealed weapons, and be able to defend themselves and others like they can in Nevada and a lot of other states, they will be targets.

Clark County,NV School district (Las Vegas) has it's very own police force to take care of every school in Las Vegas, and they really are effective...And students here aren't afraid to report the student who bring any weapon on or even near the school..Voilà...Off to jail with the law breaker. The CCSD police also works throughout the city as well as the schools. Maybe this is what these cities need.

The statistics of Chicago are unheard of here, and yes, there are gangs here as well, but police will step into them very quickly.

Until the people finally get mad enough and start reporting crimes and having these thugs put away, the crimes will continue.

I was watching CNN this morning and saw the report about the violence in Chicago and I thought "man it must really be bigger than I thought if there was a need to put it in national news. I live in Chicago and was born and raised here but the violence that has taken a death grip on this city is a very big problem that needs to be solved. When I was younger there was violence in our community but nothing like it is now! It was really big to hear that some one had been shot or was dead, it wasn't common to hear of kids taking guns to school, the biggest problem then was teen pregnancy! Now all of those kids that had kids aren't taking responsibility for their children. This vast problem starts at home with the parents, and the children are seeking what they should be getting at home out in the streets. There are very few people that have respect for the police now days and their jobs are becoming the bridge between the angry parents and the children. Some parents are blaming the police and the schools for the wild ways of their children, when the problem lies with them! No one can be a "perfect" parent, but I feel if there is proper guidence and attention then these kids wouldn't have the streets to turn to. The was a comment from Annette in CO. stating that it's not all the parents fault, and think %98 of it is. These children don't ask to be born into this horrible world and they only learn what they see from a infant. If all you see every single day of your life is bad then what else do you know if no one steps up to show them different. It might be easier to recondition the mind of a child than the mind of a adult. If these children start their life only seeing the bad and never being taught that they don't have to be a product of their environment then they grow into angry adults living their life the same way and end up haveing children and passing the ignorance on. This is a ugly vicious cycle that needs to be stopped before it's too late!

As a mother of three in Kansas, I am outrage at the Killing of our youth in Chicago. There is no such thing as a random killing! Is it being called random because they are our black youth being killed? Why is the killing not being labeled as a serial killing; and why is it not being profiled. There is no reason why gang related violence should not be handled as a serial offence. Gangs target America’s youth every year and it is passed off as though it never happened while mother and fathers cry out in pain each year. Can you tell me why each and every gang member is not locked up and tried as a conspirator against the murders? Why is there not a profiler on these cases? Is it because they are black? What would happen if they were white being shot down at this rate? Why is it called random? Each and every one of our youth that has been killed are individuals and unique souls, there is nothing random about them! Our youth’s killings need to be seen in a different way to bring an end to such a hanis crime!

THE QUESTION ON CNN THIS MORNING WAS,WHAT CAN THE CHICAGO POLCE DO TO STOP THE KILLING OF YOUNG BLACKS?THE POLICE ARE NOT RAISING THESE YOUNG PEOPLE NOR DO THEY LIVE IN THEIR HOMES.WE AS A PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND STOP THE BLAME GAME. I HAVE NOTICE HOW "SOFT" BLACK WOMEN ARE WHEN IT COMES TO THE DISCEPLINE OF THEIR "SONS". THEY ARE RAISING A GENERATION OF KILLERS. THE BLACK FATHERS ARE TOO WEAK TO STEP-UP TO THE PLATE.THIS IS A DIFFERENT GENERATION,BLACK WOMEN NEED SUPPORT FROM THESE FATHERS.BLACK MEN YOU NEED TO STAND UP!!!!!!!

when are the newspeople going to go to the parents of these juvenile deliquents and ask them why they have raised their children to run unsupervised, unparented and undisciplined to reek havoc on our city streets???? it is PASSED time to hold these parents accountable for raising these lawbreakers. It isnt the government's, the school's, or God's fault. I have 2 teenagers and I take responsibility for teaching them right from wrong...My husband and i both work full time and have still managed to raise children who do not shoot at other people!!! Take responsibility for who and what you are raising!!!! Discipline starts at HOME!!!!v Dont have children if you cant raise them to be responsible citizens!!!! So next time someone is gunned down, dont go to the victims' families and stick a camera in their face to ask them how they feel...go to the gunman's family and ask them to explain why they found it ok to raise a murderer.

The great need is for a national firearms policy which addresses the illegal traffic in firearms between and among jurisdictions. That is empowerment policy for local jurisdictions. It is very simple, but the politicians have abandoned any serious leadership toward national policy. The courts however have give the opportunity in the Parker/Heller cases that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

The Potowmack Institute, http://www.potowmack.org/index.html, has advocated a very simple national policy for twenty years. Rep. Bobby Rush (1st District of Ill.) has introduced the Blair Holt Licensing and Record of Sales bill. This is a start. The Potowmack Institute has tried to arrange a meeting with him for enlightening discussion for how his bill could be the basis for national policy. The meeting would include the CSGV's president Michael Beard and John Kenneth Rowland, the only living PhD historian of the Second Amendment. Rep. Rush's office has been completely derelict to respond to our request. There is nothing unusual in the experience. The children of Chicago pay the price for failed political leadership. Anyone who want copies of the emails and faxes to Rep. Rush's office may write to me at potowmack(at)potowmack(dot)org.

Obama has abandoned his roots in the city but there is still an opportunity. The great need now is for comprehensive, full blown hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committte and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on what is at work and at stake. The crisis is no longer simple domestic. It is international. The Potowmack Institute's letter to the Jud. Com. appealing for hearings is contained in http://www.potowmack.org/msnbc.html. Serious activism can start in Chicago. Sen. Durbin is on the Jud. Com.

GEErnst

What i would like to know is WHERE ARE THE PARENTS ??????
The parents keep saying WHAT ARE THE POLICE GONNA DO or WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT GONNA DO..... Well I ask WHAT ARE THE PARENTS GONNA DO.???
If every parent looked after their own household and paid attention to what their kids are doing and who they hang out with, maybe THEY can put an end to it all. I blame the lack of responsibility of the parents for all the killings. Most of these parents are well aware of what their kids are doing and some of them even know that their kids own a gun but don't do a damn thing. All they do is BLAME evrything else on us (society).
\So if they don't care, why the hell should I.

What is interesting to me is that race evidently plays no role in this report. People of every race and ethnicity are shot and murdered in this country everyday. The fact is though that minorities, especially blacks, are the most likely to be shot in their teens, just like the victims in Chicago. Why is this not being thrown into the mix? The sooner we start really addressing the problems within the African American communities, the sooner we can really starts addressing the violence. It is like discussing why people are killed in car accidents without addressing the fact that none of them were wearing seat belts. This is just another cowardly act of journalism not addressing the real issues!

Kudos to Ronnie! Core values, education and support are the keys as this wonderful young man said.

The middle schools and high schools should also get involved and offer after school "camp" to their students. It would get students off the streets and have teachers and counselors to offer both sports, school tutoring and counseling in order to support both the mental and physical well being of our children.

I find it fascinating that all of the areas in the United States that seem to be stricken with the greatest levels of "Gun Violence" seem to be the places with the strictest laws and controls.

It is my understanding that handguns are illegal in Chicago, yet they seem to be cheap and plentiful on the streets of the windy city. It almost seems like the only people with guns, are criminals. Perhaps the solution, is to allow responsible adults, to arm themselves so they might better protect themselves and their families.

While some might say this will just lead to a bloodbath, the wild west will come to the streets of Chicago, it will be a disaster. I would suggest that criminals, largely being criminals because they are searching for an easy route to wealth, or survival, are by and large, very disinclined to attempt violence when the victim is likely to be in a position to defend themselves.

Ironically, the parts of the county with the lowest levels of gun violence, have the LEAST restrictive gun laws. Why is this?
It seems like restrictive gun-laws serve little purpose other than to allow criminals to be armed, and the law abiding citizens no means to defend themselves.

One of the biggest reasons that crime is so out of control is DRUGS! A good dealer can make more in one week than most young people can make in a year! Another reason is there is so much gang type music that glorifies the thug lifestyle.

And bill May 17th, 2009 1:14 am ET

I am a 63 year old black male. I was really surprised to see how many respondents understood what the real problem is in Chi. Single parent families (which is no family) poor education, poverty and ,whether you believe it or not, gang banger related music. This gives these young people a family they don’t get at home. Many with parents just as bad as they are. When you speak to a thirty year old grandmother who can’t put a sentence together, you begin to understand what the authorities have to deal with. Some people might want to help but are ashamed that they can’t articulate well enough and may be looked down on. As a young man, I had access to five shotguns and four hand guns. never touched any unless my dad said OK and I never wanted to kill anyone. Times have changed
__________________________________________

Well said!! ...Times have changed!!!
PS I'm 63 also and have seen the changes as well! There needs to be accountability, starting with the PARENTS IN THE HOME!!!

Gangbangers should be considered terrorists and treated accordingly.
Gangs do nothing but bring terror to the city, thus they're terrorists!

If the police department is overwhelmed, maybe send in the National Guard to the gang infested hoods to help take out the trash.

I recently had a conversation with a cop who works daily in the worst beats in Chicago in terms of murder. I asked him what he felt the problem was. He said the problem is that these kids look to the streets for family support because no one at home cares. So when the Street leaders get caught and go to jail it's the same as leaving a child or in this case hundreds of children to fiend for themselves. Believe it or not crime rates go up when the leaders are arrested because the streets get chaotic with no rules and no one to regulate. Street and gang leaders can actually keep crime down. Maybe the trick is to find reformed gang leaders who are paid by the government or other sources to lead kids in a positive direction. Lead the kids to educational programs and show them opportunities outside of drugs and violence. Maybe we should take advantage of the high level of respect and admiration that these kids have for the street leaders.

Someone else recomended anonymous tips being made via a website on the internet to assist with the "No snitch rule". That's also a great idea to help point the police in the right direction and keep kids safe at the same time. Now the trick is to unify and start implementing all these great ideas so we can get this problem under control!! It takes a village!!!!

To all of the "guns are not the problem" people who say cities with strict gun controls have more violence....

Maybe that is because those cities have more violence thus need stricter gun laws. Maybe it would be 10 times worse now if those laws weren't put in place. This "gun control = more violence" argument makes about as much sense as saying that California's strict environmental regulations is the cause of LA's smog and pollution issues. I'm pretty sure that LA would be a lot dirtier and more polluted without those laws even though it is still pretty bad with them.

Just imagine if everyone walking down the street or in a car in Chicago had a concealed weapon on them....for some reason, that would not make me feel safe at all. I wouldn't even want to think about the type of situation we would be reporting now if that was the case.

I have lived in St Louis, Atlanta, and Wasington, DC, and the thought of carrying a gun frightens me and makes me feel less safe...not to mention thinking about if the guy next to me arguing on his cell phone might have one in his pocket as well.

Guns are for hunting, police, and the military, not for regular folks that think they can save the day and be a hero. More stories about gun accidents with us regular people than of us actually saving someone's life.

These children learn this from their grandparents, parents, and relatives. Somehow the chain needs to be broken and I don't see how when the elders of the family are living this creed.

The difference of a good neighborhood and a bad neighborhood is simple, in a good neighborhood no one keeps their mouth shut. In a bad neighborhood, no one saw anything. Until you can resolve the chosen culture of poverty along with peer pressure you won't see anyone coming forward with information about crimes.

Firearms is a constitutional right, the basis for the ownership of a firearm does not hinge in hunting, police or military.

Washington DC as well as Chicago has a deplorable crime rate and some of the STRICTEST gun laws in all of the US. Face it, the data is out there everywhere that gun laws don't impact crime. Hell, most gun laws on the books aren't even enforced, to believe that even more regulation is going to address or solve the problem is absurdity.

Firearms don't kill people, people kill people. Enforce the laws you have on the books, and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.

For all the group hugging of reaching out to those poor inner city kids, maybe forced social birth control needs to be implemented by zip code, that makes as much sense as regulating firearms. Both are constitutionally wrong, but if you can infringe upon one why not infringe upon the other?

If you really want to stop the problem start implementing CAPITAL PUNISHMENT for those who kill or maim with a firearm or any weapon (knive, bat, chain, etc..) in the commission of a crime. Any other method falls woefully short of actually wanting change, your pissing in the wind with the liberal group hug stuff, but it does make you "feel" good emotionally doesn't it? sort of like you're a pseudo contributor to the eradication of a problem huh..

Don't you see this as odd, Liberals have no problem murdering their children in the womb (abortion) and cry foul when this is mentioned and say government has NO RIGHT to dictate to me. Yet this same Liberal who murders through legislation is concerned about how other folks die, and believes infringing on my rights through the use of Government dictating to ME is the answer. I must say I haven't met a responsible or accountable liberal in my life, that's also part of the problem.

Those that matter don't mind, those that do mind don't matter...

Abbie and all who read the articles,

I am a student at the University of Chicago. I agree that senseless violence must be halted. I live in Hyde Park, and I have seen how the surrounding community is all too often affected by gang violence, murder, and robbery.

I am hosting a fundraiser concert this Sunday, May 24th, at Goodspeed Hall at the University of Chicago. It is in the Fulton Recital Hall. Tickets are only $5. All proceeds go to The Woodlawn Organization, a non-profit entity combating violence and fighting for peace. Anyone who wants to support our neighborhood and help stop violence should come and enjoy some wonderful music form uchicago and Hyde Park's most talented musicians.

Abbie, if you would like to continue your coverage of the area and expand your story, why not stop by yourself and see the civic spirit which guides students and Chicagoans all over to truly help those in need!

Thanks.

Swift, Speedy, and Strict Justice. Once a few bangers sympathetic nervous system goes into overload after sucking down some Cyanide Gas, the other bangers will at least have a decision to make.

I promise you the hype and romance of gang banger life will quickly fade.

So many insightful opinions here, this is a really energetic debate. I have done a keyword search on all opinions here and noticed what appears to be a common thread. Most believe that the solution is rooted in dealing with the problem after it is apparent. why aren't more citizens interested in prevention solutions alluded to in this thread? perhaps much too difficult?

hi im janie my son benjamin was 16 shot and killed in jax fla on his way to school march 29 2006 no one wen't to jail for his killing i still can't understand how no didn't see anything 9am i feel like life it self is over for me i understand people being afraid but what about when someone kill someone you love and see it and do n't say a thing you really need to think about that

Good morning Abbie, I am a resident of Philadelphia, Pa. better known to a lot of people by it's newly given name "Killadelphia" and I have family that lives in Chicago, these stories seem as though they are only going to get worst before they get better because even in Philadelphia we just suffered the lost of teenage boys, ages 15 and 16. The 15 year old was a Philadelphia Police explorer and took 20 shots to his death and the death of his friend at the hands of two teens that weren't that much older than them. The fear of these kids coming forward is not going to go away until these kids and their families know that their homes won't get fire bombed or others won't lose theri lives for talking since they don't have the preventative protection that would need before something happens, and not after. I am rpoducing afundraising event in Philadelphia that will serve as the solution to the problem and I would love to have your support and involvement with an appearance at this event on June 27th in the heart of West Philadelphia. Please contact me as soon as you have a minute at my e-mail address and I would love to talkto you in more detail about how thisevent will help to solve the problem of teen violence in the urban communities around the country. After seeing you in discussion with the officer in Chicago and the pain of the parents that were on the air with you and Don Lemmon, I know that you are definitely the person that I need to help in Philly and Chicag. Have a great day and I am looking forwar to hearing from you soon.

My son was placed in an endangered environment and molested. When I brought this to the attention of the Judge, I was falsely accused of something I did not do nor say. When the report was written the father left the country and the grandmother waited until after he left to report it.
I agree that statnding up can be very diffifult but it is worth it. I have been seeking justice for my son for over three years for the hurt and lies caused by the grandmother and the father omy son. I will continue to pray over the issue and hope that one day justice will be done even if it means being falsely accused of something I did not do except be a worthy mother to my son.

The Police will never run to catch a killer of people of color. You have to be white and have some influence or money. Sorry for repeating the same old song. Something about poverty and crime, the lack of faith in a sysytem that does not really represent you. we just happen to be here, Maybe some day who knows? Anyone need a dishwasher??

It not just the kids that kill, but its the adults and parents that live with the killers and drug dealers who are responsible. Hey parents and adults of the killers you are guilty. Grow up!!!!

my heart goes out to any parant who buries their children under such horrible situation, we need to find a way to show our community that the the law will do everything to protect people who may be willing to come forward.our street are being taken over by gangs we need tougher laws. that would lock them up for ever. so others will think twice before becoming one, children are looking for love in all the wrong places. we need more intervention programs for our children.its the only way.we need more positive programs that helps our children to focus on educational trades that will give them hope for a better future.