Enough Is Enough in Chicago [OPINION]
There can no longer be any doubt about what needs to happen in violence-weary Chicago following the events of Tuesday evening.
At least 15 people were hurt when at least one gunman in a speeding car opened fire on a group of mourners as they were leaving a wake for another shooting victim at a South Side funeral home.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports the wake was for 31-year-old Donnie Weathersby, who was gunned down last week about a mile and half from the funeral parlor.
Police say the rampage began at about 6:30 p.m. local time when "a black vehicle with multiple occupants" sped by. They say some of the mourners exchanged gunfire with the occupants of the car before it crashed a short distance away. So far, just one arrest has been made.
The attack came as violence continues to escalate in Chicago. There were several unrelated shootings in the Windy City on Tuesday, and 20 people were shot on Monday. Over the weekend, 12 died as 63 people were injured by gunfire.
Ironically, at about the time of the funeral parlor shooting, Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot was tweeting out messages accusing the Trump Administration of being a "dictatorship." Lightfoot and other Democrats are outraged that Trump has sent federal law enforcement into riot-weary Portland, Oregon to restore peace after more than 50 nights of violent protests.
“Under no circumstances will I allow Donald Trump’s troops to come to Chicago and terrorize our residents,” Lightfoot tweeted.
Chicago residents have had enough, as have the rest of us. It's time the hammer comes down on the violent anarchists who have sought to destroy our cities and the criminal gangs who terrorize the streets of our once-great cities.
Let the events of last evening be the beginning of the end of this horror. The federal government must take action to end the violence and then move just as quickly with a plan to restore civility and provide security, opportunity, and hope to our inner cities.
Enough is enough.
Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.