A Sad Story, could have been worse had a Gun was not available for Protection

Chicago Mayor Erupts when asked about gun enforcement

Irate with a reporter's question on the effectiveness of the city's handgun ban, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley offered to give a first-hand lesson following the shooting of an off-duty police officer.

"Oh, it's been very effective," Daley said, according to MyFoxChicago.com. "If I put this up your butt, you'll find out how effective it is. If I put a round up your … you'll know."

Thomas Wortham IV, a 30-year-old Chicago police officer who recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, was shot and killed Thursday when several people approached him outside his family's home and tried to steal his new motorcycle, authorities said.

Wortham IV's father -- a retired Chicago police officer -- came to his son's aid and shot two of the attackers, killing one of them late Wednesday, police said. Retired police officers are allowed to keep guns.

"This is a tragedy," said Chicago Alderman Freddrenna Lyle. "This young man survived two tours in Iraq, and came home and got murdered on the streets in front of his house that he grew up in. In front of his father, it's just unbelievable."

A sad story where another innocent befell a horrible death. A war hero who purchased a new bike was shot in the front of his when a group of thugs tried to steal his bike from him. Little did the thugs know that he was a police officer, though in plain clothes at the time...he was shot by the would be robbers, at which time his brave retired father was able to return fire an kill one of the hoodlums.

Had it not been for the Gun that the retired police officer had, this situation would have had more innocent people dead than the Iraq Hero who died unnecessarily.

This is the reality of this debate when individuals are not allowed to carry guns. In this case they were both policemen and more lives were saved. But what about those who continue to suffer innocent deaths because the criminals know you can't protect yourself.

If you are against guns, don't go out and buy one...but don't take this constitutional right away from the ones that need its protection.

I hope the gun ban does get reversed in Chicago as their situation is reaching Somalia status. Thugs rule the street without fear of consequences.

The criminals will always have guns.

Making laws that take them away from the legal owners just to be able to punish the bad ones more when they get caught is stupid.

Make the laws for owning an ILLEGAL handgun, not a self protection hand gun.

As we see time and time again, they save lives if left in the right hands.

I carry 2 pistols on me at all times, and pray I never have to use them outside of a gun range.

However, I'm more than ready to if a life is in danger, mine or anyone else's.

[edit on 21-5-2010 by breakingdradles]

That is a very sad situation. All of our hearts go out to the family.

I absolutely agree that the criminals will always have guns. They have them in gun banned Chicago and Washington DC, and many other locations. These thugs become even more bold when they know the common public cannot defend themselves as we see time after time. Guns don't kill, people do, which is all the more reason to keep the field level.

I hope to never have to unholster mine excepting for at the range as breakingdradles has said in his post. But I know it is there if the need arises to protect either myself or my family.

reply to post by breakingdradles


I agree. Just like drugs have been made illegal, people still manage to use them. How will guns be different? Criminals will always find a way around laws. That is why they are criminals. Taking away guns from law abiding citizens is not only taking away a constitutional right that the founding fathers created, but it is punishing innocent people and putting the general public in danger depending on how you view it.