The City of Big Shoulders and the Legacy of Machine Politics Just Experienced a New Low in the Violent Crime It Wrought Upon Itself Through Gun Control

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, author of The Sorrows of Young Werther (Year of Publication: 1774)

Introduction: Another "I Told You So," This Time on Gun Control

For many years, the Left has attempted to slowly dissolve the American people's Second Amendment rights to bear arms under the guise that by doing so, the rate of violent crime nationwide will decrease dramatically, almost to the point of no violent crimes whatsoever. Yet, why have we seen over the decades in two cities -- Chicago and Washington, D.C. -- and in one of the most powerful nations in the world -- the United Kingdom -- the rate and number of violent crimes increase exponentially that are committed using firearms? As Chris Farley said while portraying Tommy Callahan in the great 1995 comedy Tommy Boy, "That's a mystery!"  

In May, I authored an article, one of the most successful in the history of this blog, titled "Opinion: What Made Possible the Foundation of America -- the Gun -- Won Our Independence, So Why Take It Away?" that posited my belief through my reading and studying of America's history that the source for our nation's foundation was from the barrels of firearms. The first case of a government endeavoring to subjugate the American people through deprivation of their right to arms occurred on at the dark of night of April 19, 1775, and it is neither a coincidence nor an irony that this would lead to what Ralph Waldo Emerson would declare many decades later as "the shot heard 'round the world" in his epic poem, posted below as a form of historical art, "Concord Hymn" (Courtesy of Wikipedia):

(Above: Photograph of Ralph Waldo Emerson; philosopher, poet, and essayist of the 19th Century Transcendalist movement. Courtesy of Wikipedia)

"Concord Hymn"

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,

Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,

And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;

Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;

And Time the ruined bridge has swept

Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,

We set to-day a votive stone;

That memory may their deed redeem,

When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare,

To die, and leave their children free,

Bid Time and Nature gently spare

The shaft we raise to them and thee.

"Concord Hymn" (original title was "Hymn: Sung at the Completion of the Concord Monument, April 19, 1836") is a poem by Ralph Waldo Emerson written for the 1837 dedication of the Obelisk, a monument in Concord, Massachusetts commemorating the Battle of Concord, the second in a series of battles and skirmishes on April 19, 1775 at the outbreak of the American Revolution. It is the ultimate tribute to what might have been the most important event in American history by a man whose life was dedicated to the cause of championing individualism, the core trait all Americans upon achieving independence from Great Britain in 1783 were expected to portray as responsible citizens in exchange for their newly-discovered liberty. As the historian, poet, and essayist contributed so greatly to the intellectual history of our great nation when he delivered a speech entitled "The American Scholar" in 1837, which Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., considered to be America's "Intellectual Declaration of Independence," Emerson perhaps had more influence in his contributions to the American culture of the 19th Century than any single individual American has had in our nation in the following century-plus since. Perhaps his greatest contribution to the theme of our nation we know well as Americana was his propagation of the 19th Century Transcendalist movement, which espoused the philosophical concept of "nature," which he described as, "Philosophically considered, the universe is composed of Nature and the Soul." Emerson wrote on a number of subjects, never espousing fixed philosophical tenets, but developing certain ideas such as individuality, freedom, the ability for humankind to realize almost anything, and the relationship between the soul and the surrounding world. It can, therefore, be posited by the students of history and life that Emerson's tribute to the Battle of Concord was was a gift bestowed upon him by God, which is fitting in that he paid homage to the patriots who fought for the same independence that made it possible for him to unleash the tide of intellectual independence some 50 or so years later throughout the course of the following century. 

Chicago Hits 200 Murders Via the Gun Over the Fourth of July Weekend

"Individuality." "Freedom." "The ability for humankind to realize almost anything of history and life." These concepts the brilliant Emerson taught us about the nature of humanity have become foreign in 21st Century America, and sadly, they have been like an estranged spouse for more than a century. They no doubt were influenced by one of my favorite quotes from Benjamin Franklin, who in around 1775 wrote (Courtesy of Wikiquotes): 

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." 

In our present time, such bold, ominous rhetoric declaring the qualities a liberated people should exude in print and in speech are frowned upon, even persecuted against by our government. Whenever someone nowadays, including myself, posts something on the Internet, whether it be on Facebook, Twitter, or a blog, about advocating for the American people's rights to bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment, they are spied upon and targeted by such organizations as the NSA, the IRS, the FBI, the CIA, and even the EPA. Government has grown so enormous that there are bureaus in existence and laws in being enforced about which even lawmakers and lawyers have not a clue. In the past few weeks, I have listened to GOP lawmakers discuss with absolute disgust how the pages to the income tax code have increased from "just" 15,000 +/- page in 1975 to today's abomination of 73,600 pages, according to Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), one of the rising bright stars for the cause of limited government and greater liberty within the GOP establishment today (Courtesy of The Objective Conservative).  It is as Ronald Reagan stated in his first inaugural speech he delivered on January 20, 1981:

"Government is not the solution to the problem.  Government is the problem."

I digress, though, as neither the issues of the size, scope, and corruptness of the tax code nor the Reagan Revolution contention -- one which I share -- that government is entirely too large, too powerful, and too involved with our lives, the topics of this article. As much as it would bring me great joy to partake in discussing these philosophical issues of contempt I hold against the federal government, I am writing about gun control, most specifically about an alarming statistic that has struck the city of Chicago just this weekend. For pro-Second Amendment advocates as myself, we can only take so much joy in reading news articles about what I am about to discuss with you because in proving our theories about the real results society experiences from the implementation of strict gun control laws or outright bans, no one is ever pleased that we were proven correct when it comes at the price of hundreds of human lives.

The news that broke yesterday was the number "200": the number of homicides the "City of Big Shoulders" has passed for 2013 over the Fourth of July weekend. In a twist of irony, I will posted the article from The Huffington Post, notorious for being an annoying mouthpiece for the Left, and let you be the judge of how they have chosen to present before the online publication's readers the facts, or the slant thereof:

Fourth Of July Violence In Chicago: Homicide Rate Passes 200 After Long Holiday Weekend Of Shootings

Posted: 07/07/2013 4:28 pm EDT  |  Updated: 07/07/2013 4:28 pm EDT

The Windy City reached a grim milestone over the long Fourth of July weekend as the city's homicide rate surpassed 200.

The city logged its 200th homicide of the year on Saturday when a 24-year-old man was shot to death in the 1000 block of West Maxwell Street on the Near West Side, according to RedEye Chicago.

On Saturday alone, at least seven people were injured in a single drive-by shooting that left a 48-year-old man dead. The Sun-Times reports police believe the 6 p.m. shooting in Lawndale was gang-related and connected to an earlier attack on July 4.

The weekend's littlest victims included 5-year-old Jaden Donald and 7-year-old Christian Lyles, both shot late night on July 4 in separate incidents.

A judge denied bond on Sunday for the man accused of shooting Jaden Donald; the boy reportedly lost three organs as a result of the incident.

According to RedEye date, the city's homicides are down 27 percent year to date versus 2012 and up half a percent versus 2011.

More from the Associated Press:

Gov. Pat Quinn said Sunday that such continued violence underscores why he dramatically altered a gun bill that will end Illinois' last-in-the nation ban on carrying concealed firearms – a prohibition that's been declared unconstitutional by a federal appeals court.

"That ought to be an alarm bell to all of us that we need strong laws that protect the public safety, especially when it comes to guns," the Chicago Democrat told reporters after speaking at a church on the city's West Side. "It's time to end the violence."

One of the shootings on Saturday night proved especially violent, killing a man in his late 40s and wounding six others. A 25-year-old man was shot and killed earlier Saturday outside his home.

Among the wounded are a 7-year-old boy who was shot Thursday night and Jaden Donald, 5, who authorities and relatives said has undergone multiple surgeries since being shot in the abdomen early Friday morning in a park. Police said two men – ages 34 and 28 – also were wounded in that Friday shooting.

Prosecutors in Donald's case have charged Darrell Chambers with three counts each of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery.

During a hearing Sunday, Chambers was denied bond by Cook County Associate Judge Adam Bourgeios, who told the man "there are no conditions I can set to keep the community safe," the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Authorities also said a 17-year-old man was shot and killed by Chicago police Thursday after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers.

Despite the number of shootings over the holiday weekend, there have been a fewer number of homicides in Chicago in the first six months of 2013 compared to the same period last year. Overall, there were 500 shootings in 2012.

The number of homicides typically goes up in the summer and anti-violence advocates pay more attention to it. The Rev. Al Sharpton has said he plans to live in Chicago for a few months to work with neighborhood leaders on the problem.

Quinn, who has advocated for a statewide assault weapons ban, spent much of the holiday weekend discussing the violence. He drastically altered a concealed carry bill that lawmakers sent to him, calling it a matter of safety.

Illinois lawmakers have to come up with a law by Tuesday and are expected to override Quinn's changes, which call for a one-gun limit on the number of weapons a person can carry and a ban on guns at establishments with liquor licenses, among other things.

"That ought to be an alarm bell to all of us that we need strong laws that protect the public safety, especially when it comes to guns," the Chicago Democrat told reporters after speaking at a church on the city's West Side. "It's time to end the violence."

One of the shootings on Saturday night proved especially violent, killing a man in his late 40s and wounding six others. A 25-year-old man was shot and killed earlier Saturday outside his home.

Among the wounded are a 7-year-old boy who was shot Thursday night and Jaden Donald, 5, who authorities and relatives said has undergone multiple surgeries since being shot in the abdomen early Friday morning in a park. Police said two men – ages 34 and 28 – also were wounded in that Friday shooting.

Prosecutors in Donald's case have charged Darrell Chambers with three counts each of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated battery.

During a hearing Sunday, Chambers was denied bond by Cook County Associate Judge Adam Bourgeios, who told the man "there are no conditions I can set to keep the community safe," the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Authorities also said a 17-year-old man was shot and killed by Chicago police Thursday after he allegedly pointed a gun at officers.

Despite the number of shootings over the holiday weekend, there have been a fewer number of homicides in Chicago in the first six months of 2013 compared to the same period last year. Overall, there were 500 shootings in 2012.

The number of homicides typically goes up in the summer and anti-violence advocates pay more attention to it. The Rev. Al Sharpton has said he plans to live in Chicago for a few months to work with neighborhood leaders on the problem.

Quinn, who has advocated for a statewide assault weapons ban, spent much of the holiday weekend discussing the violence. He drastically altered a concealed carry bill that lawmakers sent to him, calling it a matter of public safety.

Illinois lawmakers face a Tuesday deadline to come up with a concealed carry law and are expected to override Quinn's changes, which call for a one-gun limit on the number of weapons a person can carry and a ban on guns at establishments with liquor licenses, among other things.
Quinn and anti-violence advocates have highlighted city violence in the debate on gun control. But outside the Chicago area, discussion statewide has largely focused on gun owners' rights. Lawmakers say their original bill was a compromise that came out of months of debate.

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"That ought to be an alarm bell to all of us that we need strong laws that protect the public safety, especially when it comes to guns." Such a bold proclamation of prohibition under the guise of "serving the best interests of the people" by Gov. Quinn, and what a policy! This calls for yet another Reagan moment from history where he embarrasses yet another Democrat whose politics are inferior to those of "The Gipper's" simply because left-wing politics is less than a logical ideology. Since the fear tactics of the Left on gun control are such old cliches, I am going to show a clip all lovers of liberty who are old enough to remember watching Reagan embarrassing Jimmy Carter during the 1980 Presidential Debate:

It is so fun to watch an old video of Ronald Reagan embarrassing a Democrat in a debate!

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The Illinois legislature and Gov. Quinn have continued, along with the Chicago City Council and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, to pass and sign into law one law after another restricting the people of Illinois' liberties with regards to the right to bear arms. So often over the course of the past century, the Democratic Party has opposed the concept of state's rights and most definitely nullification. Why, then, is the Democratic-dominated government infrastructures of the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago committing the hypocrisy of contradicting the party's platform? It is well-known that the Democrats have absolutely no regard for the Constitution nor the Bill of Rights, whether it be the Second Amendment or First, Fourth, or Tenth; nor do they care about the means to meet the end. The Democrats are interested in one, and only one, agenda: the total and complete subjugation of the American people. 

Again, we can hear the voice of Franklin from beyond the grave even as he is looking pretty ripe right about now:

"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."  

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Has gun control ever worked? I will re-post the facts from my previous article on gun control on this blog: 

• From January 1 though Sunday, May 2, 2010, the city of Chicago had racked up 113 homicides, an increase over the previous year's total of 101 over the same period of time.
• Since 1982, Chicago has banned the private ownership of guns.  Over the next 19 years, there were only three years where the murder rate was as low as when the ban started.  Let me emphasize the part where this statistic said as low because that does not mean the murder rate was lower.
• John Lott, the article's author as well as the author of the book More Guns, Less Crime, provided statistics in the book's third edition that prior to the ban, Chicago's murder rate was falling relative to the nine other largest cities, the 50 largest cities, the five counties bordering Cook County, as well as the U.S. as a whole.  After the ban, however, the city's murder rate rose relative to all other places.
• After the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that lifted the city of Washington, D.C.'s ban on the possession of guns and, even more importantly, let citizens keep their guns unlocked so that they were able to be used in District of Columbia v. Heller, the city's murder rate decreased by 25%, the lowest rate the city had experienced since the 1960's.

And what about Great Britain?  There has been a nationwide ban on the possession of firearms.  I used to be friends with a woman from Hemel-Hempstead, a suburb of London in the United Kingdom, who was member of the Liberal Democratic Party, a party to the left of the Labour Party. She claimed once, as I recall, that Britain only experienced 58 murders from firearms in the year prior the discussion we had over the issue occurred. Unfortunately, she lied. Here are the real statistics:

• New data out of the United Kingdom (UK), where guns are banned, shows that gun crime has soared by 35% in England and Wales.  The government's latest figures were condemned by the Tories (Conservatives) as "truly terrible."

• Criminals used handguns in 46% more offenses, Home Office statistics revealed.

• Firearms were used in 9,974 recorded crimes to last April, up from 7,362.

• It was the fourth consecutive year to see a rise and there were more than 2,200 more gun crimes last year than the previous peak in 1993. 

• Figures showed the number of crimes involving handguns had more than doubled since the post-Dunblane massacre ban on the weapons, from 2,636 in 1997-1998 to 5,871.

• Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said: "These figures are truly terrible.... Despite the street crime initiative, robbery is massively up. So are gun-related crimes, domestic burglary, retail burglary, and drug offenses. The only word for this is failure: the Government's response of knee-jerk reactions, gimmicks and initiatives is not working and confused sentences for burglary will not help either.  The figures will continue to be dreadful until the Government produces a coherent long term strategy to attack crime at its roots and get police visibly back on the streets." Gun crime would not be cracked until gangs were broken up and the streets "reclaimed for the honest citizen by proper neighborhood policing," he said.

• Gun violence has almost doubled since Labour (Britain's left-wing party) came to power as a culture of extreme gang violence has taken hold.

• The latest government figures show that the total number of firearm offenses in England and Wales has  increased from 5,209 in 1998-1999 to 9,865 last year (2008) -- a rise of 89%.

• In some parts of Great Britain, the number of offenses has risen five-fold. 

• In eighteen police areas, gun crime at least doubled.

• The statistic has fueled fears among the law-abiding British citizens that the nation's police force are struggling to contain gang-related violence, in which the carrying of a firearm has become increasingly common place.

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Ergo, there has never been a city, state, nor nation-state where gun control or the ban of all possession of firearms have worked.  The Labour Government of Prime Minister Tony Blair created a state of social anarchy when they passed the gun ban in Britain. Lawlessness skyrocketed after the law's passage in Parliament in 1998 by 89% according to one figure I read. Meanwhile, Gwinnett County in Georgia has a law require all people to possess and carry firearms, and violent crime of all types decreased by 89%!

Check out this graphic below.  The state capital of Texas, Austin, is considered the Left's stronghold in that otherwise-very conservative state.  Chicago has been dominated by the Democratic Party's practice of machtpolitik for decades.  This is so fun to look at it that I am practically developing goosebumps because I always derive the greatest pleasure from debunking the Left's lies and myths:

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Conclusion: This Was a Shorthand Attempt At Further Debunking the Lies and Myths Perpetuated by the Left about the "Good Virtues" of Gun Control

We have seen several Hollywood and music celebrities speak about their opinions on gun control. Madonna is in support of the Second Amendment, while just recently Jim Carrey, whose career has been in the toilet now for quite some time as a result perhaps of his Canadian-born features prevalent on South Park of talking with his head splitting over at the side, called gun owners "heartless motherfuckers."  It is true: guns kill people. There is just one catch to that fact, though: men and women are the ones who pull the trigger. I have never seen a koala bear or a panda do this before, nor have the citizens of Australia and the People's Republic of China, both of which have either very strict gun laws or have an outright government-imposed ban of the possession of firearms.  Frankly, I will also admit that I have never, ever seen the spontaneous both of the trigger on any firearm. Does that not mean that humans are the catalysts behind the pulling of firearm triggers?

While I was looking at different graphics of funny quotes and pictures regarding the absurdity of gun control, I found some that looked along the lines like this one:

Sadly, these politicians were political adherents of the Left. These individuals are who your elected officials in the Democratic Party strive to be like.

Finally, I will post a graphic that serves as a sort of political double entrendre:

Oh fair irony!