I happened to watch yesterday's interview of the NRA spokesman on Fox News Sunday. For the most part, it was the usual gun control interview. There was, however, one kernel of information in the interview that I found memorable. Wayne LaPierre said that of the forty largest American cities, Chicago was 39th in the prosecution of federal gun crimes. Since Chicago seems to be the murder capital of the country these days, LaPierre's point seems like an important one. Can it really be that the gangs and drug dealers who roam the Chicago streets while shooting innocents and each other are nearly free from prosecution for gun law violations? The NRA spokesman called for stronger enforcement of existing gun laws, and Chris Wallace shot back that such enforcement in Chicago would not have helped the children in Newtown. In a nutshell, that exchange illustrated all that is wrong with the gun control debate. The NRA actually came out for stronger enforcement of gun laws and the media immediately attacked them for it. No reason was applied, nor does it seem that reason ever makes an appearance in these debates.
If gun crimes in Chicago really go unprosecuted, then that is a national disgrace. Chicago, after all, is president Obama's home city and its mayor, Rahm Emmanuel, was Obama's chief of staff for many years. That city ought to be the focus of federal enforcement, not the step child.
Indeed, the lack of enforcement in Chicago underscores the likely futility of all of the proposed new laws. If the old laws are not enforced, why should anyone believe that the new ones will be? The new laws seem once again like an effort to appear to do something. We need a government that accomplishes things not one that just looks like it does. Obama would do well to announce tomorrow that he has directed a major push in Chicago and other areas that do not prosecute federal gun laws that will crack down on those who violate those laws. It won't need Congressional action. It won't need an executive order. Obama can just have it done. It seems clearly to be an indicator that will show whether or not Obama is actually serious about achieving something here.
If gun crimes in Chicago really go unprosecuted, then that is a national disgrace. Chicago, after all, is president Obama's home city and its mayor, Rahm Emmanuel, was Obama's chief of staff for many years. That city ought to be the focus of federal enforcement, not the step child.
Indeed, the lack of enforcement in Chicago underscores the likely futility of all of the proposed new laws. If the old laws are not enforced, why should anyone believe that the new ones will be? The new laws seem once again like an effort to appear to do something. We need a government that accomplishes things not one that just looks like it does. Obama would do well to announce tomorrow that he has directed a major push in Chicago and other areas that do not prosecute federal gun laws that will crack down on those who violate those laws. It won't need Congressional action. It won't need an executive order. Obama can just have it done. It seems clearly to be an indicator that will show whether or not Obama is actually serious about achieving something here.
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