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Attitudes on Gun Violence Must Change: Why IS Chicago So Out of Control?

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Written by B.T. Hill   
Wednesday, 30 January 2013 09:37

Shirley Chambers had 4 children.

All of them died by gun violence.

We can scream all we want about restricting guns. What is really needed is an attitude change.

There is so much senseless violence especially in inner cities. It is not committed by those brandishing assault weapons. For the most part it is one-on-one slayings of black men killing other black men. It's a case of mistaken identity, gunfire gone astray, revenge or, sadly, a societal right of passage.

Can somebody please answer this question for me? I’m from a sociologically different background: I grew up in suburbia, I’m white, I’m of the older generation and I just DO NOT UNDERSTAND what this killing is all about!

WHY is it “cool” for a black man to kill another black man?

WHAT does it accomplish?

Now before any of you go off on a tangent, screaming racism, let me explain. Gun deaths for blacks in this country far outnumber gun deaths for whites. As cited in a previous post, “The OTHER Gun Violence - Blacks Killing Blacks,” here on Reader Supported News, a black male between the ages of 15 and 35 is 15 times more likely to die by gun violence than a white male of the same age.

There is something terribly, terribly wrong here!

Mrs. Chambers should not have lost all her children to gun violence. She was not the black stereotype of a neglectful, drug-using, welfare recipient inner city mother. On the contrary, by her account and that of her neighbors, she was a loving and concerned Mom who brought up her children responsibly. "She was the BEST Mom," a neighbor said. Her kids were all on their way to being the good citizens she raised them to be. They were not involved in gangs. Ronnie, her oldest and the last one to die, at one time was running with the wrong crowd but had turned his life around. At the time of his death he was working in the community to help kids stay away from gangs.

Did he deserve to die? Did any of Shirley Chambers’ children deserve to die?

No.

In several videos air on TV, Mrs. Chambers pleads with the public to help her find her children’s killers. I wept as she told her story. She says there are too many gun murders and doesn't want other parents to go through what she has. This poor woman's heart is totally broken!

She also says that this cannot go on; that people must stand up and put a stop to the killings. This MUST come from THE COMMUNITY, not law enforcement but community enforcement: right from wrong, respect for others, a sense of pride and accomplishment. Build up - don't tear down!


THIS JUST IN:

Another shooting victim from Chicago, Hadiya Pendleton was only 15 years old. Just last week she led her school’s marching band, the King College Prep School, in the inaugural parade for President Obama.

She was killed yesterday in a park near her school. Witnesses said that when students were released early from school because of exams, some went to a nearby park which has been frequented by gang members. Miss Pendleton and another student were caught in what appears to be a gang war. He survived; she did not.

CHICAGO — WHAT IS UP WITH YOU? Why are your brightest young people being slaughtered?

Mayor Rahm Emmanuel of Chicago: WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THIS?

I have no answers, but only suggestions.

Stop glorifying false bravery of a man with a gun in his hand.

Emanating violence with violence solves nothing.

Conflict resolution is not solved by killing someone!

My message to these young black men in gangs who think shooting people makes them a man: With a gun — YOU ARE A COWARD! You got a beef with somebody? Go duke it out, man to man. Prove how brave and tough you are with your fists, not with a gun. At least this gives the other guy a chance! You can’t “accidentally” beat someone to death with your hands. You can’t “accidentally” kill an innocent bystander 20 feet away with your angry blows! If you start pounding the crap out of your so-called enemy, hopefully someone will step in before one of you does die.

Maybe Chicago and other cities with high black-on-black gun homicide rates need to encourage fist fights among gang members instead of gun fights!

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