Duncan, Holder in Chicago on youth violence urged by Brady Campaign to fight illegal guns

WASHINGTON–In the wake of the beating death of Fenger High School student Derrion Albert–by at least four youths– Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder are in Chicago Wednesday to meet with Mayor Daley, students, teachers and other local officials. (See previous posts)

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence released

the following statement in advance of the Holder and Duncan visit, asking that a spotlight be put on the role of guns and youth violence.

“The youth violence problem in Chicago is a gun violence problem. Illegal guns are being trafficked into Chicago and then used to kill school-aged children.

“The Obama Administration has done almost nothing to address this so far. Three years ago, in the wake of the Nickel Mines shooting of five Amish school girls, George W. Bush managed to hold a ‘Conference on School Safety’ without even saying the word ‘gun,”’ said Helmke.

“During their visit to Chicago, I look forward to Secretary Duncan and Attorney General Holder offering specific solutions about how the Obama Administration will help keep guns away from children, illegal gun traffickers and dangerous people.”

below, from Brady campaign…

SECRETARY DUNCAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER

TALK TO CHICAGO ABOUT YOUTH VIOLENCE:

WILL THEY SAY THE “G” WORD?

Washington, DC – In the wake of a recent high-profile beating death of a

Chicago Public School student, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and U.S.

Attorney General Eric Holder are expected in Chicago tomorrow to talk about

“youth violence.”

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence released

the following statement:

“The youth violence problem in Chicago is a gun violence problem.

Illegal guns are being trafficked into Chicago and then used to kill school-aged

children. The Obama Administration has done almost nothing to address this so

far. Three years ago, in the wake of the Nickel Mines shooting of five Amish

school girls, George W. Bush managed to hold a ‘Conference on School Safety’

without even saying the word ‘gun.’

“During their visit to Chicago, I look forward to Secretary Duncan

and Attorney General Holder offering specific solutions about how the Obama

Administration will help keep guns away from children, illegal gun traffickers

and dangerous people.”

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Resources:

According to the Associated Press: “Before 2006, an average of 10-15

students [in Chicago] were fatally shot each year. That climbed to 24 fatal

shootings in the 2006-07 school year, 23 deaths and 211 shootings in the 2007-08

school year and 34 deaths and 290 shootings last school year.”

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CHICAGO_BEATING_DEATH?SITE=OHCAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

According to the University of Chicago Crime Lab: “A total of 510 people

were murdered in Chicago during 2008. Eighty percent of these victims were

killed by gunfire. Nearly half were between the ages of 10 and 25, and the vast

majority were male.”

http://crimelab.uchicago.edu/gun_violence/report.shtml

As the nation’s largest, non-partisan, grassroots organization leading the fight

to prevent gun violence, the Brady Campaign, with its dedicated network of

Million Mom March Chapters, works to enact and enforce sensible gun laws,

regulations and public policies. The Brady Campaign is devoted to creating an

America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school,

at work, and in our communities.