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Teens Rally Against Police Assault Weapons Plan
Produced by Ammad Omar on Friday, November 21, 2008
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Dozens of teenage demonstrators gathered outside a Chicago Police Board meeting yesterday, to once again demand the force cancel plans to use M4 assault rifles. Police Superintendent Jody Weis and Mayor Richard Daley announced the plan to arm officers with the semi-automatic weapons earlier this year. But protesters like Christian Bewford say the high powered guns shouldn't be put to use.
BEWFORD: The didn't include the community in their decision to arm the Chicago police with this weapon. The community had no say-so in it. It was just - one day they just decided to say we need M4s to patrol the Chicago streets.
Police Superintendent Weis responded to the concerns, saying M4 weapons are more accurate than hand guns, reducing the chance officers would miss their target and hit innocent bystanders.
Unfiltered: Critics testify about the plan at Thursday's Chicago Police Board meeting.
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BAL, Edgewater // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 9:37 AM
These dumb kids don't want to be protected from the gang members with more powerful weapons than the police. I am all for the CPD using the Colt M4 Carbine. The presence alone will help deter criminals from carrying hand guns in the city of Chicago. Tell these kids to worry about their homework!
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Daniel, Dallas, TX // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 10:31 AM
I don't get it. The cops will be armed with M4s, the gangsters will be armed with whatever they can get hold of, so what is the average Joe Six-Pack in Chicago going to protect himself from gangsters and crooked cops with? Harsh language? I agree with the teens that we do not want Chicago to evolve any more into a police state than it already has.
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fed.up.withbs, Norwood Park // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 10:48 AM
With my eyes closed and knowing nothing about the "demonstrators" I'll bet they are the same morons who march against gun violence and Duh-they are the ones doing it. Bad news-they can't help themselves.
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Tom Callahan, Lincoln park/Chicago // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 11:13 AM
First off. these kids are not dumb. They (including me) are standing up for their neighborhoods. If cops can't handle nightsticks and tazors without misusing them, it is completely absurd to arm them with Military weapons. How about we get tough on the ROOTS of crime, then we might see some changes. Use the money to fund the schools.
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Dennis, Mesa, AZ // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 12:27 PM
How about demonstrating for the right of law-abiding citizens to own the same M4's the police want. We already know the bad guys have all the firepower they need.
What about you? How do you defend yourselves without even a legal handgun? You Chicagoans must enjoy living in a police state!
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BAL, Edgewater // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 1:00 PM
Tom Callahan, from the post below. You live in lincoln park in your nice posh apartment complex not having to worry about gang members with AK47's. Chicago is not a police state and obviously tasers and nightsticks aren't doing anything to 'deter' crime, Chicago holds the nations number one murder by firearm spot even over detroit, give me a break. Oh, and for the guy asking about owning an M4, it is a legal assault rifle, and you are allowed to own this type of weapon to protect you and your family. Again, I am all for the CPD getting military assault rifles to not only prtect themselves but also to protect me and the people who live in Chicago, this is a huge step forward for keeping peace in an almost lawless city. Police State, HA, you people don't know what your talking about, come and live in Englewood for a month and then tell me the Police here don't need M4's.
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Michael P., Chicago // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 1:12 PM
I am in favor of the police department doing whatever is necessary to fight crime. The illiterate savages who are holding communities hostage to their insanity need to be neutralized. Many of those who protest are ignorant pawns of the gangs and budding apologists for sociopathic bahavior.
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Gene, Carrollton // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 2:54 PM
"high powered guns"... uhh, what exactly makes the .223 high powered? kids that know absolutely nothing about firearms should have no say in selecting weapons for law enforcement (or anyone else for that matter). the funniest thing about gun control is the people that write the laws. i'd like for every single lawmaker in favor of an assault weapons ban to take my little gun iq test. you take a remington 742, winchester 100, and an ar-15 and ask which is the deadliest. everyone of them that picks the ar-15 would be banned from writing any more gun laws. i'm pretty sure after that, there wouldn't be anymore new gun laws.
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jim brady, river forest // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 5:43 PM
For those who don't live in the neighborhoods that host shootouts, it's difficult to appreciate why anyone wouldn't want police strapped with high-power, fast-repeat, longer-range weaponry. Here's the issue: flowers fill corners sadly on a regular basis where children, some almost ready to go on to good colleges, are felled in cross fire. Granted, this now happens with gangsters recklessness. When you equip police with weaponry that allows gun battles to take place at wider range, police themselves are removed from the close-up stakes, more likely to contribute to tragic mistargeting. But more important, the focus becomes tactics and weapon classifications, when the solution lies in committing officers to penetrate and break up gangs, and the police department to use methods that embrace community involvement and a restoration of neighborhood quality. The people part, if you want to boil it down. It's complicated; it's challenging. But it's not a situation we can shoot our way out of at rifle range.
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AJ, Sauganash // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 6:21 PM
The article states that the police shall be issued M4 assault rifles which, as far as I understand, incorrect. An assault rifle has select fire capability which means it can also shoot full auto. A machine gun.
The m4 being issued to police is to be semi automatic only. Some term this as an "assault weapon" since it can't be correctly termed an assault rifle.
An how can one 'militarize' an organization that is already para-military in nature and function. It's redundant.
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James M. Hodapp, Elmhurst, IL // Friday, November 21, 2008 @ 8:17 PM
More powerful weapons in police hands will not solve the problems of gang violence in Chicago. The war on drugs is pouring vast amounts of money into the pockets of street gang members just like the war on alcohol did in Al Capone's day. Cubans vote by getting in boats and leaving Cuba; Americans vote with the dollar bill and buy what they want. That's just the way it is. Education, social services and doctors are the most effective weapons against alcohol, tobacco, heroin and cocaine addictions not laws, better armed police and more prisons. It is time for a change and a change in the right direction. Let's change the controls on all controlled substances to reduce the over all harm to our society; and this time let's use science and common sense not politics and corruption to figure out new ways of dealing with drug use in America.
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Michael, Niles // Sunday, November 23, 2008 @ 3:14 AM
Do these "teens" and "activists" plan on committing crimes that would force the police to shoot at them?
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Janet Meegan, Humboldt Park/Chicago // Sunday, November 23, 2008 @ 1:01 PM
I believe I can speak with some authority about this as I actually live in a neighborhood infested by gangs and corners filled with flowers are a regular sight around here. I think the legalization of drugs (no I'm not a hippie) would go a lot farther in fighting gangs than arming the police with more weapons. Take away the money and you take away their power. I highly recommend that you all read, "My Bloody Life" by Reymundo Sanchez to gain a true understanding of how gangs work.
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Wes, Elgin // Sunday, November 23, 2008 @ 8:48 PM
I think it is interesting that Mayor Dick Daley wants to purchase firearms from the same American gun maunfacturers that he supports bankrupting through misguided ridiculous lawsuits seeking damages for the actions of the lawless crimals who mis-use firearms harm others. Hypocrite.
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AL, Humboldt Park // Monday, December 01, 2008 @ 11:20 AM
I think it's unfortunate that respondants (I hope they are not adults) refer to the students from the very neighborhoods that are being threatened by assault rifles as "morons" and "dumb." I think it is inspirational that young people see the realities of innocent friends getting shaken down by police, harrasses, or intimidated merely because of the communities they live in and the color of their skin and want to do more through their voices and action to make their communities safer without intimidation. Police do shoot out of fear. I worry about the target being more accurate especialy when they shoot at an innocent person or merely a scared witness. The war on gangs and drugs is far more complex than making us feel safer because of the guns our police or special forces are carrying daily in our neighborhoods.
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