If I had only known...

Too bad I didn't know about the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's weekly meeting this morning, where Chicago PD Superintendent Garry McCarthy was going to be. I might have risked my life to go there.

Jesse Jackson, Sr. had a column in last Sunday's Sun-Times about aiming for a rational discussion on guns. Who is he kidding? He wants a rational discussion? Yeah, just sit there, protected probably by his own armed guards, and tell us to give up our guns. Sorry, Jesse.

The PUSH's meeting was in the Kenwood neighborhood, wherever that is. Some place I probably don't want to be. Would it be safe to take the 'L' there? I doubt it. Well, the ride on the 'L' might be okay. It's after leaving the 'L' and walking to the meeting that would be the dangerous part.

Do you think they really "discussed" gun laws at the forum?

McCarthy is speaking out, no doubt on words cleared by his boss, Da Mayor, to create more gun control. What part of "there are already enough laws" does he not understand? Besides, he's the police chief, not a legislator. His job is to enforce the laws, not make them.

He can't control gun violence now. Does he think his ideas for new laws will make any difference to the rabble in his territory?

Do the street thugs care about concealed carry laws? Heck no. They are already carrying.

Are the street thugs carrying "assault rifles"? No.

Are the street thugs carrying 100-round drums or 30-round magazines for their "assault" rifles? No.

His head is so far in the sand that I hope he bought a new box of Q-Tips on the way home. He said, about his opposition to allowing the concealed carry of handguns in Illinois (and Illinois being the only state that doesn’t permit it), “Just because it’s 49 to one doesn’t mean that Illinois is wrong.”

That's classic head-in-the-sand wording.

And he said, "...just simply putting guns in people’s hands is going to lead to more tragedy.” Well, funny how that hasn't happened in 49 states! More Guns, Less Crime. Read that book, Garry!

His five "reasonable" steps to cut down on gun violence? Oh, yes, and that will prevent felons and gang members from acquiring guns?

1. banning assault weapons
2. banning high-capacity magazines
3. requiring background checks for anyone who buys a gun
4. mandatory reporting of the sale, transfer, loss or theft of a gun
5. mandatory minimum prison sentences for people convicted of illegally possessing a gun

Most of us already know that "assault weapons" have been banned for years, so that's what he's not talking about. Where did that guy come from? Newark? Send him back!

If it weren't so serious, it would be funny that Garry McCarthy endorses a book titled Don't Shoot - One Man, a Street Fellowship and the End of Violence in Inner-City America. It's about the ceasefire program of David Kennedy. It's not about the ceasefire program of Dr. Gary Slutkin. If Kennedy's program were implemented in Chicago, as designed, shootings would drop, drop, drop.

The answers to the gun violence problems are right in that book. McCarthy endorsed it. I wonder if he read it. Somebody ought to send him a copy.

The Chicago Police Lieutenants' Assn., the Chicago Police Sergeants' Assn., the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois Sheriffs' Association are right. Concealed carry will be good for Illinois.