Originally published at: MORE EXCUSES: Chicago Mayor Says Ted Cruz Treating City Like a ‘Punching Bag’ on Gun Control | Sean Hannity
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot penned an op-ed in the Washington Post Sunday evening; defending her position on gun control while accusing Texas Senator Ted Cruz of treating her city like a “punching bag.”
“If the past three years have taught us anything, however, it’s that governing and debating via social media does not solve most problems. So rather than hashing this out 280 characters at a time, let me expound here: Maybe Cruz will listen to what I’m trying to say,” writes Lightfoot.
Opinion: "Ted Cruz and others should stop using Chicago as a punching bag," writes Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot for The Post https://t.co/HqPqGA8npq
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 9, 2019
“Sixty percent of firearms owned or used illegally recovered in Chicago come from outside Illinois. These guns don’t recognize state lines or city boundaries. Cruz said the five U.S. cities with the highest murder rates ‘have had Democratic mayors for decades and aggressive gun control policies — none seems to be working.’ He’s making my case for me: As long as people can drive from Illinois to Indiana and purchase a personal arsenal without a background check, Chicago’s gun laws will always be as weak as those of the closest permissive state,” she adds.
“Ted Cruz and others should stop using Chicago as a punching bag,” writes Lightfoot.
Read the Chicago mayor’s full op-ed here.
Original Story: September 4, 2019
Texas Senator Ted Cruz posted an epic takedown Wednesday of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s recent assertion that “coward Republicans” are responsible for the epidemic of gun violence sweeping her city.
“Mayor, your anger is misplaced. Virtually every year, Chicago has the most murders of any city in America. In 2017, the top five were: Chicago (650 murders), Baltimore (343), Philadelphia (317), New York (290), and Los Angeles (286). All five of those cities have had Democratic mayors for decades and aggressive gun control policies—none seems to be working. Your explanation (“blame Indiana!”) doesn’t hold water. There are 27 states with GOP governors. Chicago is not alone in having neighboring red states. But Chicago’s murder totals are often DOUBLE the next closest city. So how do you explain the big cities in red states, without aggressive gun control laws, where murder rates are MUCH lower than Chicago? Maybe, rather than getting angry when others point out the tragically high murder rate in Chicago, you put aside the partisan talking points & the failed gun-control policies Chicago has pursued for decades. Instead, lock up the violent criminals who are committing murder…PREVENT felons & fugitives from illegally buying firearms, and ALLOW law-abiding citizens (who are right now obeying Chicago’s prohibition) to exercise their constitutional right to protect their own lives and their families,” posted Cruz on Twitter.
1/x Mayor, your anger is misplaced. Virtually every year, Chicago has the most murders of any city in America. In 2017, the top five were: Chicago (650 murders), Baltimore (343), Philadelphia (317), New York (290), and Los Angeles (286). https://t.co/JYsaYcxgSF https://t.co/wcFc4MflzV
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2019
3/x But Chicago’s murder totals are often DOUBLE the next closest city. So how do you explain the big cities in red states, without aggressive gun control laws, where murder rates are MUCH lower than Chicago?
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2019
5/x …PREVENT felons & fugitives from illegally buying firearms, and ALLOW law-abiding citizens (who are right now obeying Chicago’s prohibition) to exercise their constitutional right to protect their own lives and their families.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2019
Cruz was responding to Lightfoot’s comments that criminals simply leave Chicago and purchase guns in nearby, Republican-controlled states.
The Mayor made similar statements earlier this year, claiming her city’s gun crisis was possible due to Indiana’s firearms laws.
“Previously we had a law enforcement first and only strategy and it wasn’t working. It’s not working when you talk about neighborhoods where the unemployment rate is 25% or higher. It’s not working when you think about the fact that in many communities, 90% or more of residents are depending on public assistance and where neighborhoods haven’t been invested in, where there’s no real legitimate economic activity,” said Lightfoot.
“The fact that you can cross the border, go into Indiana and purchase military-grade weapons at any number with no background check is a terrible thing, not only for a city but look at the devastation that gun violence is wreaking every single day in our community,” she added.
