Don’t look to Chicago; NC has its own gun problem
“Gun violence is not our normal, and it never will be." - Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton of Illinois
Last July 4th, a crazed gunman used a semi-automatic rifle to murder seven people and injure another 48 in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park. I have been there many times. It’s a safe, upper-income suburb north of Chicago.
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If you have any friends who are National Rifle Association members, they have likely told you something along the lines of: “Gun control does not work, just look at Chicago!”
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But they are wrong. The facts are not on their side. For example, a state like Texas has loose gun laws but more gun deaths per capita versus the U.S. as a whole.
North Carolina’s age-adjusted death rate is 16 per 100,000 vs. Illinois — where Chicago is the largest city — at 14.1 per 100,000. In other words, there are slightly more gun deaths per capita in NC vs. Illinois.
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That’s not to say that Illinois doesn’t have a gun problem. It clearly does, especially because
a. It borders states where a gun can be easily bought; and
b. State law enforcement does not place gun control high up on their list of problems.
But at least Illinois, controlled by Democrats in the house, senate and governor’s office, is trying to do something to lower gun deaths.
For example, a gun control law was passed last month (along party lines) which-bans the sale of assault weapons; limits high-capacity gun magazines; outlaws conversion of guns to be automatic; requires registration of existing semi-automatic assault weapons; and “red flags” dangerous individuals who should not possess weapons. Gov. J.B. Pritzker had previously signed other laws strengthening background checks and regulation of gun dealers.
Of course, not everyone was pleased with the new law. Many Illinois sheriffs indicated that they will not enforce it, consistent with the failure of police to red flag the Highland Park killer.
The Gun Owners of America described the new law as “tyrannical.” However, they did not suggest anything at all that could have been done to prevent the Highland Park 4th of July Parade shooting.
The 21-year-old shooter, Robert Crimo, bought the semi-automatic gun legally. He was permitted to do so even though he had a police record going back to 2019 when he attempted suicide and made terroristic threats, having his knives confiscated by police.
Highland Park police stated at the time that he was a “clear and present danger,” but then failed to go to court to prevent Crimo from owning weapons. Still, he passed background checks and was approved to buy firearms, even though he was just 19 and had a record of mental illness.
The truth is that there are two aspects required to lessen gun deaths: Passing laws to control guns, and getting law enforcement to enforce these laws. Illinois has taken action to pass the laws. Now it must enforce them.
Per the respected gun control group Everytown, NC has a mixture of strong and weak gun laws. Among the things that need to be improved are expansion of gun control permits to include rifles and not solely handguns and the addition of misdemeanor offenders to the list of people restricted from gun ownership. Also, the addition of a “red flag” law to help take action when a family member of law enforcement official identifies an individual in crisis who should not possess a firearm.
Four of the five states with the laxest gun laws have more gun murders per capita than the national average: Arizona (5th-most gun deaths per capita); Idaho (10th); Alabama (8th); and Oklahoma (15th).
Gun laws in North Carolina should be based on facts versus raw GOP primary politics. But under the GOP leadership in the legislature, they are enacted due to emotion and primary pressures versus reality.
Jack Bernard is the former director of Health Planning for Georgia and a retired high-level executive with a healthcare corporation. He was one of the founders of Premier, Inc. in Charlotte. He is a widely published health reform columnist.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Don’t look to Chicago; NC has its own gun problem
