Monday, February 25, 2013

GUN CONTROL - Gun Violence in Chicago

"Gun Violence Is Public Health Crisis in Chicago" PBS Newshour 2/22/2013

Excerpt

RAY SUAREZ (Newshour):  We conclude our week-long series on guns, violence and mental health concerns in the wake of the Connecticut shootings.

Tonight, we have a report from Chicago on how doctors and researchers there are trying to tackle the growing problem of gun violence as a public health issue.

Our story is part of the PBS "After Newtown" project and was filed by Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW Chicago.

ELIZABETH BRACKETT, WTTW Chicago:  Not yet two months into 2013, and the death rate from gun violence in Chicago has exceeded what it was this time last year.  And last year's numbers were awful, 506 total murders in 2012, 16 percent higher than the previous year.

There was Shirley Chambers, who lost her fourth child to gun violence in January when a gunman opened fire on a van with her son inside.  There was 15-year-old honor student Hadiya Pendleton, who had just returned from President Obama's inauguration when she was gunned down just a few blocks from the president's Hyde Park home.  Her death brought the president to Chicago to talk about gun violence.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:  What happened to Hadiya is not unique.  It's not unique to Chicago.  It's not unique to this country.  Too many of our children are being taken away from us.

MAN: All right, let's swing your legs over to the side here.

ELIZABETH BRACKETT:  But death tolls don't tell the whole story.

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