No Peace Without Justice
By Mitch Berg
Remember all those shootings in Obama’s Chicago? The gang warfare that’s made Chicago just about the most dangerous city between Juarez and Kandahar?
Maybe not – the national media has been pretty hands-off on “gun violence” in Chicago since The One’s ascenscion.
And it turns out that it’s even worse than the shooting figures indicate; in the event they catch a shooter, they can’t seem to put ’em in jail:
The Chicago Sun-Times tells “the story of why they won’t stop shooting in Chicago.” The newspaper said the story is told “by by the wounded, the accused and the officers who were on the street during a 2008 weekend when 40 people were shot, seven fatally.” Two years later, nearly all the shooters from that weekend have escaped charges. “You don’t go to jail for shooting people,” says Dontae Gamble, who took six bullets that weekend, only to see his alleged shooter walk free. So far, not one accused shooter has been convicted of pulling the trigger during those deadly 59 hours from April 18-20 of that year, a Sun-Times investigation found.
Only one suspected triggerman — a convicted armed robber caught with the AK-47 he allegedly used to blow away his boss — is in jail awaiting trial. Three other victims said they know who shot them but refused to testify. Six murders from the weekend remain unsolved. Time’s running out to catch the bad guys who shot 29 other people because there’s a three-year statute of limitations on aggravated batteries with firearms. The Chicago police batting average for catching shooters has fallen to an alarmingly low level. Detectives cleared 18 percent of the 1,812 non-fatal shootings last year. They were slightly better in catching killers — 30 percent of murders were cleared. Even though detectives cleared 18 percent of non-fatal shootings last year, almost half of those were cleared “exceptionally,” records show. That means more than 90 percent of those gunmen weren’t charged.
But FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, don’t let people defend themselves Mayor Daley! If you can’t do it, why should they?
August 18th, 2010 at 8:40 am
I would have to think that peoples’ willingness to testify against thugs would be increased if they were allowed to legally arm themselves to defend themselves against them…..both in the home and on the street, of course.
Might be a bit tough in economically depressed areas, but in my experience, being poor never seemed to stop kids in those areas from getting new Air Jordans. Methinks their mothers might be able to find some money for a Taurus….
August 18th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Yeah I’d second the vote for a Taurus Judge – great home defense weapon!
August 18th, 2010 at 9:18 am
Got one! But hard to find hollow point .45LC rounds.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:19 am
Bush league stuff, guys.
I prefer a Remington 870 defender shotgun. Just the sound of chambering a round will make any home invader flee, unless they are real dumb.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:31 am
410 shells will do less damage to your house then 12GA. It is all about balance.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:52 am
People are in complete denial down there. We were visiting friends in the Chicago area last week while we were on vacation, old college friends. These folks, who are resolutely leftist in their politics but otherwise maintain a typical suburban lifestyle, refused to watch the local newscasts because “they were too depressing.” Instead they watched Jon Stewart.
August 18th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Those who didn’t testify were they rival gang members or scared innocents?
What does this mean?
Even though detectives cleared 18 percent of non-fatal shootings last year, almost half of those were cleared “exceptionally,”
I get that half of the 18% of shootings were not cleared by convictions for shooting someone. Were they plea bargained? Were they charged with Federal gun law violations? Were they judged to be self defense? Or were they just dropped because the proof didn’t meet the standards needed to convict?
jpa if your in a position where you have to fire within your home the last thing you should be worried about is sheet rock. Also I would be much more worried about what the .45 LC would hit after it passed through two panels of sheet rock than the 12 GA.
A 12 GA is a better defensive weapon in most cases. However, keeping one loaded at your side at all times just isn’t practical for most people.
August 18th, 2010 at 10:08 am
justplainangry
go to http://ammoseek.com/
i found 500rds – 45 Long Colt DRS 230gr. XTP Hollow Point Ammo for $339.95 at Ammunition to go
August 18th, 2010 at 10:35 am
I don’t expect that many perps to show up a my door! As a matter of fact, I hope, as all of us do, never have to discharge a weapon inside the house – ever! Thanks for the link!
August 18th, 2010 at 10:37 am
what the .45 LC would hit
Absolutely! That’s why I am looking for hollow points.
August 18th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Keep in mind, just for the gun geekery, that far more homes are masonry in Chicago than here. The .45 might not be that bad a choice in most homes there, and it’s also good for “not at home.”
Good point, though, that some of the victims who refuse to testify might be people who you really don’t want to be armed–but probably are already.
August 18th, 2010 at 11:48 am
I’d rather an intruder pick up my location from the muzzle flash rather than from the sound of a round being racked. I have a Judge, “ready” with .410 in the first two chambers followed by three .45 LCs for those who might be especially persistent.
I’m going to get some of the new Winchester Supreme Elite self-defense .410 loads when they’re back in stock:
Tested by the FBI to see if it can stand up to real world, life threatening situations, this ammunition has impressive expansion and notable velocities at various ranges thanks to Winchester’s proprietary bonding process. In PDX1 ammunition, Winchester engineers have created a self defense load that exhibits controlled expansion and a higher weight retention.
In addition to the 12 pellets of plated BB shot, the 410 Bore load also features 3 plated Defense Disc projectiles. Loaded in black hulls with a black oxide high-base. Originally developed for the Taurus Judge, these shells can also be used for varmint hunting and pest control.
August 18th, 2010 at 12:03 pm
NW
I do the same, .410 OO buckshot in the first 2 chambers followed by 3 .45 LC +P JHP
August 18th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
bosshoss429 Says: “I prefer a Remington 870 defender shotgun. Just the sound of chambering a round will make any home invader flee, unless they are real dumb.”
+1 for sure, it’s a well proven stopper of bad guys. You don’t need (or really want) any special ammo for in-home defense. Birdshot has been shown to perform the best at close range encounter. It will put a BIG nasty hole in an adversary, won’t penetrate multiple walls, or important stuff behind a wall. 45ACP would be my alternative choice if things were to go bad really fast and there wasn’t time to bring the shotgun into play.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:17 pm
I won’t dispute the many pros the shotgun has going for it as a self-defense weapon, but also keep in mind it’s size.
It’s large and rather awkward to use in the often confined spaces of your home. Can you move down your hallway or through a door easily with a shot gun?? At all angles?? Keep in mind the panicked and not especially insightful frame of mind you’ll be in BTW.
Ah but you’ll have it at your shoulder? Well if you’re moving around remember that shotgun will display itself about 3 seconds before you can see into the room.
Ah but you’ll be hiding in a corner. Kind of an awkward thing to have in the corner with you isn’t it??
There’s a lot to be said for a small compact force-equalizer in your hand as you move into a secure hiding place with a phone in your other hand.
Keep in mind that if you have an intruder in your home the dumbest thing you can do is go looking for them. Collect your loved ones and get them out of the house if possible. If not put yourself between them and the intruder and then call the police. They’re paid to be heroes….you’re not. Plus your bank account probably isn’t up to the legal battle you’re endure.
Your focus shouldn’t be on what will scare the intruder most. It’ll be what it most conducive to collecting your family and getting as far away from danger as is reasonable….while retaining that weapon as a last resort.
August 18th, 2010 at 1:20 pm
Despite my already pen-length comment, I did want to add this.
None of that was to put down a shotgun, they have their place. And since damn near every home seems to have one somewhere they are a tool nearly everyone is comfortable with and knows how to use.
And yeah, the chambering sound is almost universally feared.
That said, those don’t make it necessarily end-all-be-all of home-defense….your best weapon is that thing between your ears…sizes vary.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
Keep in mind that if you have an intruder in your home the dumbest thing you can do is go looking for them.
Which is why I keep a laundry hamper full of flash-bangs in my bedroom.
August 18th, 2010 at 2:09 pm
Winchester Supreme Elite self-defense .410 loads
Note to self: Add to shopping list.
45ACP would be my alternative choice if things were to go bad really fast and there wasn’t time to bring the shotgun into play.
That is why Taurus Judge is a darn good compromise.
Keep in mind …
+1
August 18th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
“Plus your bank account probably isn’t up to the legal battle you’re endure.”
Which is why we desparately need a “Stand Your Ground” law in MN.!!!!!!!!!
I am very much 1911A1 tainted, but I’m thinking I’ll be adding a Judge (3″) to my collection in the near future.
August 18th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
But hard to find hollow point .45LC rounds.
Reload. I find the factory stuff is fine, but the stuff I hand load is even more accurate and I can get just the performance I want from either competitive target or self defense.
None of that was to put down a shotgun, they have their place.
Talk to cops. As one of them said to me, “I take the shotgun on raids. Nothing calms down a bad guy like staring down the barrel of a 12 gauge.”
August 18th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Kevin;
You are correct; there are some drawbacks to a shotgun over handguns. Most of the defender shotguns are equipped with pistol grips and barrels just long enough to be legal.
I commented from experience. When I lived in Texas, where you can defend your property by force, I had a couple of what turned out to be high school kids, jimmied open both the service door on my garage and the door into my mud room. I heard them, had my wife call 911 and I grabbed my shotgun from under the bed. As I got to the bedroom door, I jacked in a round. The only thing I heard was “Oh SHIT!” then heard them scrambling to get out the doors.
Interestingly enough, they had attempted to get into my neighbor’s house first, but he had motion sensor yard lights that chased them off. He saw them run accross the street, so he called 911, too. The two little miscreants ran right into the arms of three Fort Bend County, TX Sheriff’s deputies.
Today, if someone did the same thing, I think that discretion may be the better part of valor, but if necessary, I’m takin’ them out.
August 18th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
My only episode.