The Evolution of Chicago’s Handgun Ban-Audio & Transcript
From March, 2010 WBEZ91.5:
Daley blamed outside agitators for bringing violence to Chicago, but King was pleading with Chicago’s blacks to stop the violence. At the time, conservatives blamed the civil-rights movement for creating disorder. Politicians made speeches about “law and order.” Some of them seemed to be using that phrase as a code for racial repression. Still, crime was increasing, and many people really were concerned about it.
In 1967, Daley pushed for a state law requiring the registration of all guns. His bill was defeated. The Illinois General Assembly approved a Republican compromise. It was supported by the National Rifle Association and Illinois State Rifle Association. Instead of registering every gun, the state registered gun owners. It was the Firearm Owners Identification Card.
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Last year, the Chicago police seized more than 8,000 guns. Homicides decreased 10 percent in 2009, but the death toll was still staggering: 458 murders. Out of that total, 352 people were killed with handguns.