ATF Data Discredits Chicago Mayor’s Claim of Guns Pouring in From Other States – Chicago has a violent crime problem, that much is certain. With the federal government’s recent moves toward intervention and the city’s resistance, a startling declaration emerged from the mayor’s office.
But a Tuesday assertion by Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) blaming everyone but violent criminals for his problems is getting pushback.
Johnson blamed everyone but himself for his city’s embarrassing situation
His Honor claimed on X that the Windy City is the innocent victim of gun running from his neighbors. “Chicago will continue to have a “violence problem” as long as red states continue to have a gun problem,” Johnson said. “The endless flow of illegal guns into Chicago can be traced to red states like Mississippi, Indiana, and Louisiana.”
Johnson added that it is up to Washington to intercede with “interstate gun trafficking networks.”
But where are these weapons really coming from? According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, they are largely home grown.
The largest share of guns used in Illinois crimes were obtained locally
That’s right. The most recent ATF data, which is drawn from 2023, showed that the lion’s share of illegal guns were traced to Illinois sources. Authorities recovered or traced 22,973 firearms in the state, and 9,147 were found to be local.
Johnson singled out Indiana for blame, perhaps knowing that simple geography would factor into the totals. Illinois law enforcement recovered 2,796 weapons traced to Indiana in 2023, a far cry from those seized from home.
Past Indiana, no state accounted for more than 1,000 guns recovered or traced in Illinois in 2023.
As the showdown between federal and municipal leaders concerning crime continues, it is essential to note the positions taken by city leaders. Johnson is just the most glaring example, but big city mayors are busy attempting to redirect blame to the Second Amendment.
Not violent criminals.
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