Good news out of Chicago

[sarisataka]

CPD: 2014 sees lowest 1st-quarter murder total in 56 years
April 1, 2014 (CHICAGO) -- Chicago's first-quarter murder total this year hit its lowest number since 1958, police say.

The first three months of the year saw 6 fewer murders than the same time frame in 2013--a 9 percent drop--and 55 fewer murders than 2012, according to a statement from Chicago Police.

There were 90 fewer shootings and 119 fewer shooting victims, drops of 26 and 29 percent respectively, according to police statistics. Compared to the first quarter of 2012, there have been 222 fewer shootings and 292 fewer shooting victims.

Overall crime is down 25 percent from last year, and police said more than 1,300 illegal guns were recovered in the last three months.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/chicago_news&id=9487263
Granted it is only one quarter and no single solution can cure the complex problem of urban violence, but at least the numbers are moving in the right direction.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

1. When were the onerous, recently struck-down gun control measures first enacted?

Honest question.

[sarisataka]

4. Here are some exerpts

the full article is here http://www.ibtimes.com/short-history-chicagos-battles-courts-over-gun-control-1530100 and here http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/557.html

1967: Mayor Richard J. Daley urges the state to pass a law requiring the registration of all guns, but the Illinois General Assembly approves a Republican compromise, which instead of registering every gun, required the state to register gun owners with the Firearm Owners Identification Card.

1968: Daley’s City Council orders the registration of all firearms in Chicago.

1981: Morton Grove, a suburb of Chicago with 25,000 residents at the time, becomes the first municipality in the U.S. to ban the sale, transportation and ownership of handguns. The ordinance is immediately challenged in court, and U.S. District Judge Bernard Decker rules the ordinance is valid.

1982: Mayor Jane Byrne and the city council begin hearings on an ordinance proposed by alderman Ed Burke that would ban the sale and registration of hand guns in Chicago. The ordinance passes. Chicago becomes the first major U.S. city to freeze handgun ownership. Chicago suburbs begin passing similar bans.

1992: The Chicago city council, led by Mayor Richard M. Daley (son of J. Daley), bans assault weapons.

[lunasun]

2. I do not want to be cynical and hope it continues to go down , but +5 feet of snow &-30 windchills

in non stop winter may have helped

[Loudly]

3. Here. This is for you.

http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20140402/uptown/chicago-lawn-murder-uptown-shooting-suspect-charged-police-say

[sarisataka]

5. I would think you would be happy

isn't the mantra "if it only saves one"? Well so far the policies have saved six and in addition a 29% drop in shooting victims.

Of course the real test will come in the hot summer months when crime is typically at its peak. If the trend does continue I will be very happy. Less violence and greater respect for rights.

[Jgarrick]

6. "If it only saves one life, isn't it worth it?" Man, I hate that meme.

When so often the answer is, "No, it's not".

[SQUEE]

7. blood on your dancing shoes..

just wanted you to know.