CHICAGO -- With Chicago's homicide total for 2008 already past 500, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., is calling for stronger gun laws in order to help to stem urban violence.
“We cannot just continue to mourn the deaths of our youth—our future, we must begin to march and fight for better gun laws,” Jackson said at the regular morning forum at Rainbow PUSH headquarters on the South Side. “Chicago does not manufacture these weapons, we know where they are coming from and yet not a single gun shop has been closed,” Jackson said.
Directly following the forum, Rev. Jackson held a press conference with Michele DeLashment whose son, Kermit, became the city’s 500th homicide victim on Monday. This is the highest homicide total in the city in five years.
“On Monday, someone took my son’s life. I am asking—pleading--for that someone to come forth. Turn yourself in to Rev. Jackson here at Rainbow PUSH or the police,” she said.
DeLashment, 21, was the grandson of Mickey Warren, a longtime friend and associate of Rev. Jackson. The young man’s mother is a long time PUSH supporter and choir member.
On hand at the forum was Jennifer Bishop, national program director of victims and survivors for The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, who presented a five point plan of action to stop the flow of gun controls.
“We have put forth a plan that is absolutely a sure way to stop easy access to guns,” she said. “We have the power to stop putting dangerous weapons in the hands of dangerous persons, if we create and implement concrete gun laws. Illinois has not tried good gun laws, and the laws currently in place have huge loopholes.”
The action plan:
• Require universal background checks on every gun transfer
• Regulate the trafficking of illegal guns
• Restrict military-style assault weapons in civilian hands
• Prohibit all violent criminals from possessing firearms
• Apply consumer product safety standards and childproof safety features to all firearms
In addition, Rev. Jackson announced the 12th annual Rainbow PUSH Wall Street Project Economic Summit that runs Jan. 13 – Jan.15. This year’s conference is themed “Fallout From the Bailout: A New Day In Washington.”
Featured guests for the annual Wall Street Project Economic Summit include: New York Governor David Patterson; Joseph Saunders, chairman of VISA Corporation; and Terry Lundgren, president and CEO of Macy’s Federated Department Stores.
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