Almost as if to telegraph criticism to the Chicago Police Department, an Illinois state representative last month introduced legislation to require grocery stores, gas stations, banks and pawn shops in cities with more than 2 million residents—probably limiting it to Chicago—to hire armed guards during business hours.
House Bill 1231, sponsored by Democrat State Rep. Thaddeus Jones would take effect July 1, 2024. It applies to cities with more than 2 million residents, and that pretty much singles out the Windy City exclusively.
According to Fox Business, last year in Chicago, violent crime jumped 35 percent compared to 2021 data. Last year, the city recorded 665 gun-related homicides, according to data found at HeyJackass.com, the popular website dedicated to keeping tabs on Windy City crime. In total, the website says, last year saw 737 homicides, down from the 855 in 2021. The Fox Business report said the city has a higher homicide rate per capita than New York or Los Angeles, based on Chicago police data.
There is a discrepancy in the numbers between the police count and HeyJackass.com.
Jones’ bill has some critics, including Barbara Eastman, owner of Happy Foods. She told Fox Business the bill is “ludicrous.” She blamed rising violence on “soft-on-crime” policies in the city. She favors arresting criminals, putting then in jail and making them stay behind bars.
The story also talked to the owner of a road paving company that will no longer work in the city because his employees kept getting robbed, often in broad daylight. Indeed, that operator, identified as Gary Rabine, pulled his operation out of the state last year, Fox reported.
In a city where police morale is down and current Mayor Lori Lightfoot is facing tough re-election odds which may leave her on the sidelines following Tuesday’s primary election to thin out the field of nine candidates, it may seem like the department can’t handle the growing crime problem. The general election is April 4.
Jones calls his legislation the Armed Security Protection Act. It was filed Jan. 31 but only now seems to be getting much publicity. It’s a short measure, spanning only two pages.
The cost of adding armed security would be expensive, and could create more trouble for business owners.
