Lake County Gazette

Martin McLaughlin, House Representative of Illinois, said that Chicago crime remains dangerously high despite reported declines. The statement was made on X.

"Chicago media led with crime stats tonight from Pritzker‘s media team," said Martin J. Mclaughlin, State Representative from Illinois. "Talking about how they've declined. That's like having a 106° temperature and now you're at 105. Safety is a right not a privilege."

According to the Council on Criminal Justice, Chicago's crime trends reflect broader national shifts, with homicides and violent crime declining from pandemic highs. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Chicago's homicide rate was 13% lower than its pre-pandemic baseline, while fewer than half of 30 major U.S. cities had dropped below their 2018–2019 levels. Analysts note the steepest drops occurred in cities that saw the largest surges in 2020–2021, highlighting Chicago's relative progress.

In 2024, Chicago recorded its lowest levels of murders, shootings, and shooting victims since 2019. The Chicago Police Department reported 573 murders in 2024 compared with 620 in 2023. Overall violent crime was down 6% year-to-date, robberies dropped by 17%, and carjackings declined by 26%. Officials emphasized these decreases reflect sustained multi-year efforts to reduce violence citywide.

According to Vital City data, when compared to New York and Los Angeles, Chicago’s violent crime rate remains higher despite overall declines. Chicago’s rate rose from 949 per 100,000 residents in 2019 to 1,097 in 2023, while New York went from 574 to 633 and Los Angeles from 739 to 816 over the same period. Although all three cities saw pandemic-era increases, Chicago’s rate has consistently exceeded the other two.

McLaughlin has represented Illinois’s 52nd District in the House of Representatives since 2021. A Republican, he previously served as Village President of Barrington Hills and built a career as a small businessman specializing in pension management. His official biography also notes leadership roles in the Barrington Area Council of Governments and other community organizations.