Excerpt: "Authorities have been battling an increase in homicides in the city where some aldermen complain gangs have no fear of the police."

Why is Chicago exploding in so much gun violence - and why hasn't there been more national attention focused on the problem? (photo: Chicago Tribune)

13 Shot in 30 Minutes in Rising Chicago Violence

By Associated Press

24 August 12

olice say 13 people were shot and wounded in a 30-minute spate of violence in Chicago, including eight gunned down on a single street.

Authorities have been battling an increase in homicides in the city where some aldermen complain gangs have no fear of the police.

Police say a drive-by shooting on Chicago's South Side late Thursday wounded seven men and one woman ranging in age from 14 to 20 years. Two of the victims were taken to Comer Children's Hospital. Most are in stable condition. Police say the 19-year-old woman wounded was shot in the arm while walking to work.

Five people were wounded in three other shootings around the same time.

Police say 19 people were shot in Chicago on Thursday night and early Friday.

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+5 # brux 2012-08-24 19:36

This is scary.

+14 # phantomww 2012-08-24 20:54

In the time that we lost 2000 Americans in Afghanistan we have lost 5000 in chicago. Maybe instead of pulling out of Afghanistan we should pull out of Chicago.

+25 # 8myveggies 2012-08-25 00:41

If the CPD gave half as much effort and attention to violent crime as they did to the NATO meeting the problem would be solved. The 1% are protected. The 99% are not. No one is looking out for us.

+8 # Nel 2012-08-25 01:39

This is telling something we do not want to hear.

+9 # mikes1060 2012-08-25 01:45

This is what happens when you have a blowhard mayor "redeploy" forces to make a big show of what a great "manager" he is. The "show" of redploying tactical cops has put people in danger in high risk neighborhoods. Friends who work for the City keep referring to episodes of "The Wire" to predict his next move...

+3 # Nel 2012-08-25 03:06

That's telling us something we don't want to hear!

+10 # RMDC 2012-08-25 03:45

Maybe it is the Free Chicago Army. I know the mayor of Chicago is a corrupt dictator. Maybe it is time for a regime change. I hope NATO will impose a no fly zone and aid the rebels all it can. Maybe Hillary Clinton will go there and demand that the regime leave town.

+7 # Glen 2012-08-25 03:48

All this happening in spite of restrictive gun laws. It is true that there are communities in the U.S. filled with angry people lashing out at everyone, and it is true the U.S. government no longer appears to care.

+12 # Mrcead 2012-08-25 04:43

This is disgusting. America can carve out the still beating heart of the Taliban but can't suppress gang activity in an American city?

I suppose it is just a matter of desire then.

+4 # ABen 2012-08-25 07:29

This seems to be a new twist on the Malthusian concept of population control through war; let everyone have guns, thin out the population. Those who can afford to accessorize their wardrobes with bullet-proof clothing and machine pistols will live longer. Gee, this looks like an emerging growth industry for some enterprising capitalists, just borrow some money from your folks and .....

0 # phantomww 2012-08-25 07:50

Didn't Obama just tell us how great Chicago is? Guess having a high murder rate is great.

+7 # mikes1060 2012-08-25 09:28

For those outside of Chicago who think this is funny, soak your head in your safe suburban pool...The courts struck down the handgun law in Chicago already. This is not about gun control. This is actually happening in several hotly contested drug/gang areas that real people live in. It is a policing problem that can be managed and a social problem that is exacerbated by continuing cuts in education and needed social, recreational and JOBS programs...Rahm has a hand in some of that too...

0 # Anarchist 23 2012-08-25 11:12

Poor Chicago-first Al Capone and boot leg liquor and Prohibition and now gangs and drugs and-Prohibition ...hmmm...is there something we are failing to learn from history?????

0 # MidwestTom 2012-08-25 11:52

Chicago is making too much money from their speeder cameras to worry about shootings. People are expendable, unless they are caught on a speeding camera. Maybe the police are too busy tracking down those speeders who did not pay their "robo ticket".Chicago has far more black poor than it has jobs for them, welfare allows the poorest to reproduce, and as long as they vote the way they are told to, they will continue to expand.On Chicago news reports white victims have names, while blacks are simply statistics, most of the time.

+1 # Archie1954 2012-08-25 12:43

Now doesn't the Chicago alderman's comment sound like something said in the late 20s and early 30s?

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