Daley rips legislator's gun training proposalBob Roberts and Lisa Fielding
Posted: Tuesday, 24 March 2009 12:13PM
story link CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Mayor Daley is seething over a West Side legislator’s suggestion that children be educated about gun safety and gun use.
State Rep. Annazette Collins (D-Chicago) said she believes that education is the key to gun safety, and said a hands-on approach is the key to taking away the mystery and allure of guns.
“Downstate they teach you that guns are meant for hunting, for protection,” she said. “Here in the urban cities, all they see are guns on TV and they gun down people.”
Opponents filled a town hall meeting Monday night in Garfield Park, and Mayor Daley is adding his voice to the outrage.
“It’s the silliest position I’ve ever heard taken,” Daley said.
Daley said putting guns in the hands of more children is the last thing the city of Chicago needs.
“It would be different if they have an interest and the family takes them so they’re going out hunting,” he said. “Don’t you think we should concentrate on math, science, reading, attendance, keeping children in school, after-school programs? I think the representative should put her priorities in order.”
Daley said there is already too much gun violence on Chicago’s West Side, and said he believed Collins’ proposal would only fuel it.
“If (she thinks) more guns on the West Side is going to help those people, she is greatly mistaken,” Daley said.
Collins said she suggested gun education to help gain passage of House Bill 48, a measure that would require universal background checks prior to the purchase of guns and would ban private handgun sales.
Those attending the Monday night town hall meeting were, for the most part, just as opposed as Daley.
“Teaching kids about guns in the classroom is absurd,” said resident Randall Blakey.
Activist priest Rev. Michael Pfleger agreed.
“That’s like saying we might as well sell drugs legally,” Fr. Pfleger said. “We don’t want access to guns. We have children dying in this city. We’re talking about teaching kids in grammar school how to shoot guns? That’s crazy!”