As of Wednesday, September 7, Chicago’s homicide and shooting numbers surpassed the entirety of a very violent 2015. And 2014, 2013, 2012…all the way back to the late-1990s. And we’ve got nearly four months left in the year. Here in Illinois, we don’t call Chicago “Murder City USA” for nothing.
Hey Jackass reports the 2016-to-date numbers:
Shot & Killed: 465
Shot & Wounded: 2532
Total Shot: 2997
Total Homicides: 516
And for the past three years?
Final 2015 Totals
Shot & Killed: 447
Shot & Wounded: 2559
Total Shot: 2996
Total Homicides: 509
Final 2014 Totals
Shot & Killed: 390
Shot & Wounded: 2229
Total Shot: 2619
Total Homicides: 461Final 2013 Totals
Shot & Killed: 375
Shot & Wounded: 1810
Total Shot: 2185
Total Homicides: 455
Notice a trend? Chicago’s police chief calls it a “society issue” and not a police issue. Actually, it’s a multifaceted issue. A long sad history of stringent gun control certainly plays a role. How much of a difference does Chicago-style gun control make?
In 2012, Chicago – with its strict gun control laws – had 514 homicides.
Illinois’ second-largest city, Aurora, sits about an hour west of the Windy City. In 2012, Aurora – without Chicago-style gun control – had exactly zero homicides. Not a single one. Go figure.
