Close the loopholes allowing easy access to firearms
These days in Chicago, more people than ever are touched by gun violence. Everyone’s perspective is shaped by personal circumstances, and hopefully more people will get involved to support changes in the laws like those proposed by U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill.
On Jan 29, 2013, our 15-year-old daughter Hadiya was murdered. We are now a part of the fraternity that no one ever wants to join, yet every day 86 Americans are killed with guns.
We have founded Hadiya’s Promise “Because every child matters.” Our diverse advisory board brings people together to find solutions that another weekend of violence
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Additional letters at voices.suntimes.com shows that we need now more than ever.
According to the Chicago Police Department, 60 percent of guns in Chicago crime come from outside the state — almost all of them from states that don’t require background checks. The other 40 percent come from four gun shops within an hour’s drive of the city.
Hadiya’s Promise supports closing the loopholes that allow guns to be sold over the Internet, at gun shows and finding resources to reach out to kids at high risk of perpetrating crimes and making the welfare and education of young people a priority.
Gun violence is personal to us, but as Ald. Joe Moore (49th) may have learned recently, violence can have an impact on anyone at any time. The recent Sun Times editorial gets it right: “In a sane system in which guns were not so readily available, fewer people would die.”
It will take many shoulders to the wheel to change the deadly direction that we are taking. Everyone is at risk. Anyone can be the next victim. Everyone should care. Cleopatra and Nate Pendleton, co-founders, Hadiya’s Promise
In for the long term?
The “Santa Fe” sign on the building at 224 S. Michigan has been changed to “Motorola.” Upon seeing it over the Memorial Day weekend, it was quite disheartening.
Motorola has such a propensity for building and vacating properties in the Chicago area, I think whoever is in charge of maintaining that big Santa Fe sign should keep it in good shape. Motorola may at some point be exiting that facility as well and we can once again see “Santa Fe” on top of that building.
Jim Pacholski, For River Grove