Chicago's Top Cop Talks Guns In Washington

After a Chicago weekend that saw violence claim eight lives, Supt. Garry McCarthy traveled to Washington Monday to discuss gun safety with Vice President Joe Biden and other police chiefs and sheriffs.

President Barack Obama says he wants police from across the country and the three communities that experienced mass shootings to help convince Congress to pass gun legislation. They included the heads of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, the Major County Sheriffs Association, members of his Cabinet and chiefs that responded to the worst shootings of 2012 in Aurora, Colo., Oak Creek, Wis., and Newtown, Conn.

Obama said no group is more important than law enforcement in the gun debate. He said he recognizes the issue "elicits a lot of passion all across the country" but that Congress will pay attention to police.

He urged Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, limit high capacity magazines and require universal background checks.

In his remarks before the meeting, Obama said he not only wants police opinions on what will prevent shootings similar to those in Newtown and Oak Creek, but he also wants answers for preventing daily violence in other cities, including his hometown. 

"It's not only the high-profile mass shootings that are of concern here," the president said. "It's also what happens on a day-in-day-out basis in places like Chicago or Philadelphia, where young people are victims of gun violence every single day."

McCarthy's stance on the issue is crystal clear. For months he has pushed for law changes that include requiring gun owners to report the theft, loss or sale of a firearm. McCarthy also wants to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and has called for universal background checks and mandatory sentencing for illegal gun possession.

"Our intent is not to infringe on the 2nd Amendment rights of Americans to carry firearms," he said, "however we'd like to insert some reasonability into the gun laws. And none of the five points that we are pressing for -- I challenge you -- are gun control."

Mayor Rahm Emanuel made good on those suggestions in an ordinance proposed this month to the Chicago City Council.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
 

Contact Us