Alderman’s statements reckless

Ald. George Cardenas was interviewed by the Sun-Times about the fatal Chicago Police Department shooting of Anthony Alvarez, who was armed with a handgun at the time. He said “the guy didn’t look like he was a threat to the officer,” and he also mentioned that Illinois law allows you to carry a gun, so a lot of people are going to have guns in their hands.

Those statements alone are stunning in their lack of knowledge and information, and clearly common sense here is not part of the equation. So a guy running down the street with a gun in his hand is not a threat? By the way, yes, you can own a gun legally in Illinois, but we are not an open-carry state. The gun has to be concealed, not carried around in your hand.

Comments like those from Cardenas are irresponsible and inflammatory. The media should challenge them.

Richard Barber, Mount Greenwood