Good Idea, But....
Putting the blame where it belongs for once:
- Chicago aldermen representing high-crime neighborhoods near a Norfolk Southern rail yard, where 150 guns were stolen in three major thefts over a three-year span, are proposing new laws to try and ensure railroads properly secure facilities to prevent such thefts.
Their proposal, which is before the public safety committee and which will later go to the full City Council, cites “the vice grip of gun violence” that led to a 19-year high 762 homicides in 2016. It contends that city “train yards have emerged as a ready source of firearms.”
The three thefts from 2014 to 2016 all occurred at Norfolk Southern’s 69th Street Yard, situated in South Side neighborhoods hard hit by gang-related shootings. The aldermanic initiative is a rare instance of local politicians seeking to pressure a multibillion-dollar corporation over the thefts.
We don't know what power aldercreatures can wield over railroads, which are typically regulated quite directly by the Federal Government. We imagine not much.
And even if they do, this might happen:
And even if they do, this might happen:
- Oak Forest police said at least 40 firearms were stolen from a gun range early Friday morning.
Police said around 4:30 a.m., they responded to a glass break alarm at the Eagle Sports Range at 5900 W. 159th Street. Police said the business was closed at the time and no one was inside.
When they arrived, police said they saw that a large cinder block was used to break a window at the gun range.
Security footage showed three black male suspects wearing backpacks entering the gun range and taking the firearms. Police said the suspects arrived and left in an unknown blue vehicle driven by a fourth suspect.
"No 24 hour security in there. They should have been aware of that. It happens everywhere. I don't get it," Michael Considine, an Oak Forest Resident, said.
The range owner declined to comment on Friday.
A couple of surprising notes here:
- Who does Channel 7 think it is, describing the suspects? Racists!
- Rumor is that the business fired all their security guards 48 hours before they got hit. Overconfident? Inside job? Cover-up for something else?
Questions questions questions.
posted by SCC at 6:03 AM
23 Comments:
Blame the railroad companies. Its bull shit to blame the victim. I hope the rail & gun companies tell the Alderman to pound sand.
Nothing will change until the focus is off "Gun Violence"
Replaced by a focus on "Gang Violence".
And you wonder why there's not a gun store in the city of Chicago.
The insurance pays on stolen guns. Insurance policy is cheaper than providing 24/7 armed security. It is the coppers job to handle the robbers and shooters.
It is a small thing, but it drives me crazy.
Did they really say "vice" grip? Doesn't anyone speak English anymore?
How would Don Harmon's gun licensing proposal have prevented the rail yard thefts and the burglary of the gun shop? No. Just an brain deed proposal that would have absolutely no effect on violence in Chicago or any other location in Illinois.
More likely terrorist front. Makes you wonder.
Guns don't kill people. Chuck Norris kills people.
Just like Eddie says, there are more questions than answers.
Now, kees me you fool!!!!
As for Norfolk Southern, it'd be nice to pressure the company to build a wall (as long as that isn't racist) around their facilities. Union Pacific built a nice fence around their yards, and another railroad even went the electric fence route. The problem will be the cost and installation. The "yard" is about 6 miles long. Some of these facilities, especially around the skyway, are over 100 years old. Installing 10-15 linear miles of high security fence wont be cheap. And then there are those pesky federal regulations governing the rails.
A better solution would be to decrease the time cargo is stationary in the yard. This could be acomplished logistically and require less physical assets. The railroads are already being forced by the feds to implement expensive train monitoring systems. And they are expanding their 47th St Yard south to 63rd St. These improvements should help keep cargo moving.
Another problem is the rail police. While you can't blame a cop for every crime committed on their beat, there are a lot of improvements to be made. Hiring more qualified applicants for the rail police and having better training wouldn't hurt. And then maybe add a requirement that the railroad cops have a municipal background (Aviation Security doesn't count). Especially the brass. Morale is pretty low and turnover high, rare for a major railroad.
And then there are the courts. Its pointless to have laws and a police force if the courts won't lock anyone up. Cargo theft in Cook County is a low risk high reward venture. Read through the CLEAR reports. Most of the people who are doing the stealing are repeat customers. Some still have Dart's ankle monitors on when they are caught breaking into the trains. And the Foxxxx States Attorneys don't like to prosecute property crime. Catch someone breaking into a train: knocked down to criminal trespass. Catch them with a box in their hand: misdemeanor possession of lost property. And when you have a solid enough case to move past felony review its a lotto to see which liberal judge will hear the case.
And even if every problem with the railroad was solved, the crooks would just go to the suburbs and hit a gun shop. The real story is a lot of politicians want money, and they are putting pressure on/ extorting a large company. There are a lot of property deals going on between the city and NS, and this is just leverage. Sort of like saying "its for the children" when its about personal gain.
Yes, I know that range. Very expensive to participate and not very friendly people running it. And, by the looks of it, very poor security and poor and cheap construction allowing for this to happen.
Oak Forest gave $4 million to the owners (who are of Middle Eastern descent) of Eagle Range to convert the old car dealership into a gunshop/range. Place was in the hole before they opened, IRS after one owner for money skimmed from village. Hear ATF is looking into straw purchases also. Some pretty sketchy dealings going on there.
Back in the 70's, the area(Public Housing) along the west side of the railroad yards was known as "INCOME PROPERTY". There were times you would roll up on bucket brigades of men,women & children unloading boxcars & passing the stuff into the housing.
There are certain things that just should not be transported via rail, you cannot secure thousands of miles of track.
You wouldn't transport gold or cash via box car, why guns and ammo.
Wasn't Apple paying good money for secure transport of its product.
Mark up the price of these items and transport them properly with trucks and security.
Is is possible the weapons were used to injure Officers working Back of the Yard, hood??
All security were fired. Why? Odd coincidence? smh
Why the fuck can ANYONE break in to ANYWHERE and steal guns like this simply with the use of a frickin' cinderblock thrown through a window!!!!! Is no one paying attention? Bueller!!1 Hello?!
Who gives a fuck just write the paper go home safe
It's a gun store and range they had no security guards.
I say, build a super rail yard outside of the city and close the rail yards located inside.... it can be ✅ done
Firearms have been transported by train for almost 200 years. What's changed were the laws governing protection of property.
Libs won't allow that anymore.
That's why you have packs of feral urban predators storming el trains, subways, stores, preying on the tourists along Michigan Ave and other seemingly quiet neighborhoods of ecomonic vitality.
Does it matter if a firearm is stolen or legitamate when it's used by a parolee in the commission of a crime?
It does matter when it comes to what race the criminal is and how the case is prosecuted.
Fucking obtuse, inept, stupid thinking AlderStooges.
Never missing an opportunity to lining their pockets with big business shakedowns.
Don't worry, we'll pass more anti-gun laws that won't do anything about this but will make it harder for a regular law-abiding citizen to carry one in self-defense.
Hey did you hear about the gun buy back at St Sabina on 1APR. No, I did not think so.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
I say, build a super rail yard outside of the city and close the rail yards located inside.... it can be ✅ done
5/03/2017 01:03:00 PM
They did, southwest of Chicago. The "bottle neck" going through/around the city still causes delays in the movement of a lot of trains...
No one wants to pay for the upgrades needed to change the system.
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