Would Chicago Gun Ban Stop the Violence?

Gerald D. Skoning wrote an editorial for the Chicago Tribune that compares the recent wave of gun-related crime in Chicago with that of the war being waged by real soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. He brings up this key point in his argument:

“Meanwhile, national leaders who are fearful of offending vital constituencies pander to the right-to-bear-arms advocates and refuse to address the most urgent issue in urban America.”

Are we to believe that if firearms were banned that somehow the crime in Chicago would cease? Clearly these involved, which Mr. Skoning cites as being drug traffickers and gang members, aren’t going through legal channels to purchase their firearms? Shouldn’t those in Chicago be allowed to defend themselves when they are caught in the crossfire from these criminals?

Like many in the mainstream liberal media, Mr. Skoning is of the mind that getting rid of firearms will solve these gang wars and somehow reduce crime. Drugs are illegal, and the gangs in Chicago likely aren’t producing the “product” they sell. This is imported illegally, and if it takes guns to win the turf wars the guns will also be imported illegally.