Author: Guy Micholic
Chicago has long been associated with violence and on this Halloween weekend it has once again lived up to its reputation. With 17 dead, 7 of them under the age of 20, this Halloween marks the deadliest weekend in one of Chicago’s deadliest years. Among the victims were teenage twin brothers, Edward and Edwin Bryant, shot down in a “drive by”, and died within an hour of each other at a hospital on Sunday morning. The youngest victim, 14 year old Demarco Webster Jr., died Saturday morning while helping his dad move out of a building. The tragic loss of life here staggers me, yet in the public eye it’s yesterday’s news already.
41 people suffered gunshot wounds, bringing the victim count to just under 60 in one weekend. 2016 has seen at least 638 homicides in the city, beating last year’s total by 217. More than 3,660 people suffered gunshot wounds so far this year.
Chicago has the strictest gun laws in the country and yet its streets are a literal war zone. Is there anyone out there who doesn’t see the irony in this? What is it going to take to wake America up to the fact that more gun control legislation is not going to curb the violence in our streets?
My heart breaks when I think of the personal loss the victim’s families are forced to endure as a result of this unbridled criminality. I realize that the Police force is overwhelmed by these spikes in violence, and is working diligently to turn the chaotic tide, but overall societal trends fight them every step of the way.
There’s violence in the movies, in music, popular recording artists and celebrities glorify violence and encourage rebellion among youth, when will we come to our senses? When will the collective conscience stop desensitizing itself to this unspeakable kind of behavior? Has society become so accustom to this ugly trend that it now accepts murder as part of everyday routine? Many of us block it out of our mind because we feel helpless to do anything about it. I find myself searching for answers, and as always, the answers come from the God’s Word. Unfortunately, sometimes the answer can appear to be more of an explanation than a solution.
2Timothy 3
[1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
This subject is thought provoking, but not something that I am completely comfortable with. Perhaps none of us should be. Stay safe out there!
