Lake County Gazette

Following a weekend when 43 people were shot, including 10 who died, state Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) is taking matters in his own hands when it comes to quelling the violence.

“It’s time to bring in the National Guard to stop the madness and restore order in our communities,” McSweeney said. “We need to put an end to the violence and destruction in Chicago.”

Speaking in the aftermath of all the carnage, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said over that same time officers made 52 arrests on gun charges and recovered 87 revolvers. McSweeney argues much more needs to be done while pointing an accusatory finger at Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

“This is Gov. Pritzker’s Illinois,” he added. “We need to uphold the rule of law and stand up to violent criminals. We need the National Guard to protect Chicago citizens. We must restore law and order to the streets.”

In the Austin neighborhood, six people were shot, two of them fatally, in an early morning shootout on North Pine Street, where authorities said a man opened fire on a crowd gathered. Among the victims were a 47-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man, both pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital. Police said the gunman, already on electronic monitoring, was also killed when a person with a concealed carry license returned fire.  

Across town in Englewood, one man was killed and three others were injured in a brazen daylight shooting in the 6100 block of South Throop Street. Witnesses told police the victims were sitting on the porch when two suspects jumped out of a vehicle and starting shooting. A 35-year-old man was struck in the head and was later pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital, while a 17-year-old boy suffered a gunshot wound to the hip, a 60-year-old man was grazed in his lower back, and a 26-year-old woman was shot in the hand.

No one is in custody in that shooting, in which McSweeney is again calling for drastic action.

“Gov. Pritzker and the Chicago Mayor’s Office are failing to protect Chicago citizens and their property,” he said. “This is disgraceful. It’s time to deploy the National Guard. We need to get tough on violent criminals.”