www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0603070241mar07,1,951921.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed

2 hunted in killing of girl Assault weapon used in slaying, police say By David Heinzmann, Tribune staff reporter. Tribune staff reporter Jason George contributed to this report Published March 7, 2006 The gunman who killed Starkesia Reed last week as she stood near a living-room window used a high-powered assault weapon that sprayed 29 rounds and hit seven other houses on the block, police said. Police were pursuing two men they believe to be responsible for the shooting of the 14-year-old honor student. The gunman missed two suspected drug dealers who were his intended targets, but he hit Reed in her home 300 feet down the 6700 block of South Honore Street, law enforcement sources said Monday. Police also were searching for the short, high-caliber, pistol-gripped rifle they believe may have been converted to a fully automatic weapon, a law enforcement source said. Reed's slaying is the sort of tragedy that gun-control advocates argued should have kept a federal assault-weapons ban from expiring in 2004. But there is little enthusiasm for such bans since the Bush administration let the federal law die on its 10-year anniversary, the advocates say. Last week in Springfield, Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones (D-Chicago) said a proposed assault-weapons banpending in in the legislature would likely fail this session because of a lack of support. The bill's sponsor said Reed's murder should convince lawmakers that the ban is still relevant. "I would hope this situation would bring attention to the fact we do have a problem," said Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago). "Unfortunately, a life was lost ... a 14-year-old girl's life was taken away." Murders involving assault weapons are very uncommon, said gun-control advocate Jim Kessler, partly because the weapons are so powerful that firing them accurately is difficult. "If this starts to become the sort of thing that happens more often, that would really be tragic," Kesssler said. Despite the political debate about the weapons, most homicides in the U.S. are committed with handguns. The federal ban, which prohibited the manufacture of guns with certain military-style features, was passed in the early 1990s when urban violence was soaring. But by the time the law expired because of a 10-year sunset clause, crime rates had dropped precipitously and few lawmakers wanted to spend political capital renewing the ban. Opponents of gun-control laws say a ban on assault weapons would do nothing to stop gang members from acquiring and using such weapons. "Once again you have legislators trying to take political advantage of a tragedy," said Todd Vandermyde, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association in Illinois. "My reading of this is that you have an individual or individuals bent on murder and mayhem, and the type of firearm they used is irrelevant." Starkesia Reed was getting ready to go to Harper High School at about 8 a.m. Friday when she heard gunfire outside. When she went to the living-room window to see what was going on, she was struck in the head by a stray bullet that pierced the window, killing her instantly. Her murder outraged a community that has become too accustomed to gang and gun violence. The Gangster Disciples control drug dealing on the block that includes Reed's home, police said. Religious leaders held a community meeting Monday night to talk about the ongoing gang problem in the neighborhood, and the anti-violence group CeaseFire was planning a Tuesday afternoon demonstration on the block where Reed was killed. Investigators have identified the gunman and a driver of a green Chevy Cavalier used in the shooting, a source said. Both men may have left the city, the source said. ---------- [email protected]

Interesting how the article in the RedEye (abridged) is decidedly more anti-gun than as shown on the Tribune's website (and presumably in the Tribune itself).  The RedEye article stopped after the sentance:

" 'I would hope this situation would bring attention to the fact we do have a problem,' said Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago).  Unfortunately, a life was lost ... a 14-year-old girl's life was taken away."

and the RedEye article did not go on to quote the NRA counterpoint.

I feel for the family of the slain girl (as I would for every other gun --  or vehicular -- death), but do we really need to have this political propoganda put out by a supposedly reputable news source?

Also, I want to know what kind of weapon this was.  Is this another example of the media totally confusing what was actually used?

How do they know what type of weapon was used when neither the shooter(s) or the weapon have been recovered?
This irresponsible "journalism" pisses me off. It's blatant sensationalism. There should be some way to charge these people with editorial malpractice.

I really dont like Chicago!!!..........................they make me sick

i freakin hate this shit....   just because "29" bullets  were "sprayed" its automatically "highpower" and an "assault rifle" and was "converted to full auto"(give me a break)  unless they recover the gun. they are a bunch of morons...  could have been a mini-14 or even one of those pump action .223s that accept ar mags for all they know

ummm yeah i'm not buyin it...  

Email sent.

The journalists who report these incidents have no clue what they're talking about when it comes to firearms. For example, yesterday's Tribune reported that "high caliber" brass was recovered at the scene, possibly indicating that an "assault weapon" had been used. The (obviously errant) words "high caliber" led me to believe it was probably a bolt action hunting rifle. How he concluded that the brass came from an "assault weapon", I have no idea. And neither does he. But he didn't miss the opportunity to claim that it possibly indicated that an "assault weapon" was the culprit.

Today's stories are also interesting...first because of the speculation that an "assault weapon" was used, and secondly that IN THE SAME ARTICLE, the reporter speculates (again) that the weapon had been converted to full auto. Well, if it was converted to full auto, it's not an "assault weapon" as defined by the state. It's an automatic weapon (and already illegal, but don't bother them with the details). No wonder the soccer moms in this state are so anti-gun. Not only are they uninformed...they're misinformed by a biased press. I don't know whether the reporters are really that stupid and reckless, or if it's simply an intentional effort to mislead. Either way, the Tribune has a really lousy editing staff.

Quoted: it's simply an intentional effort to mislead.

+1

Either way, the Tribune has a really lousy editing staff.

Actually the editing staff are doing exactly what the higher ups running the company want them to do.  Obfuscate the truth and dupe the masses into equating anything relating to guns to evil.

ETA: www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895261146/sr=8-1/qid=1141770447/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7106576-9496715?%5Fencoding=UTF8

"The gunman who killed Starkesia Reed last week as she stood near a living-room window used a high-powered assault weapon that sprayed 29 rounds and hit seven other houses on the block, police said."

I'm not sure what a, "high-powered assault weapon" entails, but I do wish your journalists would learn to identify what they're talking about instead of making up phrases that sound catchy and mean nothing, just like that one.

"Police also were searching for the short, high-caliber, pistol-gripped rifle they believe may have been converted to a fully automatic weapon, a law enforcement source said."

There is absolutley nothing a lawful about the ownership of such a firearm in the city limits of Chicago.  Even the entire county of Cook has its own "assault weapon" ban that covers anything with a detachable magazine and/or a pistol grip.  No citizen may legally own or posess a fully automatic firearm in the state of Illinois.  This article makes numerous mentions that the statewide ban attempt has been totally ineffective, but fails to mention that a local ban already exists making these firearms illegal.


"Reed's slaying is the sort of tragedy that gun-control advocates argued should have kept a federal assault-weapons ban from expiring in 2004."

Again, all pistol grip equipped rifles with box magazines are banned in Chicago already.  Gun control advocates know this already.  The federal ban would just make them criminals at three levels instead of two.  The posession of a firearm like that is banned by  both Chicago and Cook county already.

"But there is little enthusiasm for such bans since the Bush administration let the federal law die on its 10-year anniversary, the advocates say."

That's because it did nothing to reduce crime in the country at all, so says the center for disease control.

"Last week in Springfield, Senate Majority Leader Emil Jones (D-Chicago) said a proposed assault-weapons banpending in in the legislature would likely fail this session because of a lack of support."

Once again, no mention of the local ban.

"The bill's sponsor said Reed's murder should convince lawmakers that the ban is still relevant."

Once again, no mention that the local and county bans did nothing, only a call for more legislation on the state level.

"I would hope this situation would bring attention to the fact we do have a problem," said Rep. Edward Acevedo (D-Chicago). "Unfortunately, a life was lost ... a 14-year-old girl's life was taken away."

Absolutely right, we do have a problem.  The problem is that the laws already on the books are not being followed.

"Murders involving assault weapons are very uncommon, said gun-control advocate Jim Kessler, partly because the weapons are so powerful that firing them accurately is difficult."

Completely false informatin here, pure propoganda.  The reason so called, "Assault weapons" are uncommon in crimes is that they're not concealable on the person.

"Despite the political debate about the weapons, most homicides in the U.S. are committed with handguns."

That is true.  Chicago banned ALL handguns more than 20 years ago unless they were grandfathered in.  So, once again, we've dealt with this "problem" already a long time ago and the legislation has done nothing.

"The federal ban, which prohibited the manufacture of guns with certain military-style features, was passed in the early 1990s when urban violence was soaring. But by the time the law expired because of a 10-year sunset clause, crime rates had dropped precipitously and few lawmakers wanted to spend political capital renewing the ban."

Actually it expired and was not renewed because it was proven totally ineffective in preventing crime.

"Opponents of gun-control laws say a ban on assault weapons would do nothing to stop gang members from acquiring and using such weapons."

Which is proven by this murder happening in the first place.

You're the editor of a very important newspaper in this city.  We want the news, not your journalist's bias.  I don't want to read this propoganda.

Every day I open the paper and read this garbage.  This must cease.  I'm tired of the paper making every law abiding gun owner seem like a criminal.  This nonsense is like a mental disease.  It needs to stop.

The editor of the paper is Ann Marie Lipinski. Her email address is
[email protected]

Actually, if the brass was 7.62x39 or 5.56, it probably did come from a semi auto carbine. Perhaps even from a full auto carbine. However, I don't think the writer has the knowledge to know that. At least, his hysterical journalistic style wouldn't make me think he had the knowledge of firearms required to judge the source of recovered cases.
It very well could have come from high ranking police sources. They sometimes tend to get caught up in the Chicago anti-gun frenzy.

i find  it amazing that every time an anti gun bill dosent pass something like this happens....

and no i dont ....wear tinfoil...

Quoted: i find  it amazing that every time an anti gun bill dosent pass something like this happens.... and no i dont ....wear tinfoil...

I've noticed the same thing myself. It's also always accompanied by all the typical "sky is falling" hysteria about "assault weapons".

And yet Chicago already has a ban on these weapons.    How did this happen?  You mean to tell me that criminals will still keep theirs...?   Oh man.  

100 to 1 it wasn't legal in the first place. Their point is mute.

I'm just glad the gun-control legislation is working(NOT!)

Yep because gangbangers shoot at each other with "high powered assault weapons" in the ghetto, somehow by taking our rifles away from us (people who live in areas with almost zero crime) will make the world safer place.

What a convient time for Chicago to have such a crime with a "high powered rapid fire fully automatic semi automatic bullet spraying scary black machine gun rifle"

They will rot in hell for these things. This is old Chicago politics at it's finest. hey, what's one more dead black kid in the ghetto when you are trying like hell to ban guns, take them away and create your socialist wet dream.

Too bad the Chicago Propoganda Daily, uh, I mean the Tribune won't call the dirty pieces of shit out that staged this.

Sad, but eventually, we all answer to Jesus.

Quoted: The journalists who report these incidents have no clue what they're talking about when it comes to firearms. For example, yesterday's Tribune reported that "high caliber" brass was recovered at the scene, possibly indicating that an "assault weapon" had been used. The (obviously errant) words "high caliber" led me to believe it was probably a bolt action hunting rifle. How he concluded that the brass came from an "assault weapon", I have no idea. And neither does he. But he didn't miss the opportunity to claim that it possibly indicated that an "assault weapon" was the culprit. Today's stories are also interesting...first because of the speculation that an "assault weapon" was used, and secondly that IN THE SAME ARTICLE, the reporter speculates (again) that the weapon had been converted to full auto. Well, if it was converted to full auto, it's not an "assault weapon" as defined by the state. It's an automatic weapon (and already illegal, but don't bother them with the details). No wonder the soccer moms in this state are so anti-gun. Not only are they uninformed...they're misinformed by a biased press. I don't know whether the reporters are really that stupid and reckless, or if it's simply an intentional effort to mislead. Either way, the Tribune has a really lousy editing staff.

Modern print media is simply a collection of lies. Believe nothing printed in the Sun Times, Daily Herald or Tribune.

The point to bring up is that these weapons are already banned in Cook County / Chicago, etc. and that the ban has done nothing to stop the violence.

It was also interesting to see the pro-gun-ban guy state the following:  
]"Murders involving assault weapons are very uncommon, said gun-control advocate Jim Kessler, partly because the weapons are so powerful that firing them accurately is difficult.

"If this starts to become the sort of thing that happens more often, that would really be tragic," Kesssler said.

Despite the political debate about the weapons, most homicides in the U.S. are committed with handguns."[/red


Call me naive but I don't think Daley needs his political operatives out killing little girls to boost his anti-gun agenda.  I think that the existing gang rivalries will continue to take care of that for him.  

I'm incredibly sad to hear of the loss and I have condolances for the family but the point I want to make is this, for some stupid reason the mainstream media refuses to accurately report gun crimes in regards to weapon used.  That makes the law abiding gun users and owners among us look like asshats.  

They just need to legalize all guns in Chicago and get CCW and all other weapons in the state.  Everyone except the sheep will own a gun, and criminals won't have a law to break.  You're going to get rid of the gun crimes in the city and state.  

Pipe Dream? While Daley and his Dumbocrat band of minions are still in office, yes.  If this state can get a decent set of lawmakers that don't have their heads up their arses, well our problems are solved.

Silascobb, I want to point out this, the RedEye is a young/urban sort of paper that focuses on the young liberal set.  I wouldn't be expecting accuracy from them, but what can you expect with mainstream media?

Murders involving assault weapons are very uncommon, said gun-control advocate Jim Kessler, partly because the weapons are so powerful that firing them accurately is difficult.

I'm surprised nobody jumped on this comment. Again more nonsensical bullshit

Quoted: Murders involving assault weapons are very uncommon, said gun-control advocate Jim Kessler, partly because the weapons are so powerful that firing them accurately is difficult. I'm surprised nobody jumped on this comment. Again more nonsensical bullshit

Was there not a provisions about accessories not being allowed, such as a pistol grip, then amended to exclude the accessory from the bill?  I know there was talk about if you couldn't hold the barrel while hot, then it was illegal to own.

Quoted: Silascobb, I want to point out this, the RedEye is a young/urban sort of paper that focuses on the young liberal set.  I wouldn't be expecting accuracy from them, but what can you expect with mainstream media?

True, I agree with that, nor do I expect accuracy for them.  But I was surprised that the would print only the gungrabber part of the Trib article and omit the rest.  I mean its one thing to have a biased article in any paper, its quite another to tailor your news propaganda to reader cohorts or subsets.  It suggests a higher order mentality and calculation to misrepresent.  Whereas with the first kind, it can always be argued it was unintentional bias.

Quoted: I'm surprised nobody jumped on this comment. Again more nonsensical bullshit

Yeah, I saw that.   Apparently then you cannot hit the far side of a barn with a .50 BMG from 20 feet away because "it is so powerful".  Also, didn't you know that $300 .45 ACP guns outshoot AR-15s at 200 yards? [Tounge planted firmly in cheek].

BTW, Jim Kessler sounds like a .  J/K

Edit: to currect da spelin.

Quoted: True, I agree with that, nor do I expect accuracy for them.  But I was surprised that the would print only the gungrabber part of the Trib article and omit the rest.  I mean its one thing to have a biased article in any paper, its quite another to tailor your news propoganda to reader cohorts or subsets.  It suggests a higher order mentality and calculation to misrepresent.  Whereas with the first kind, it can always be argued it was unintentional bias.

That's precisely what I mean.  I think that a lot of the news media,(and I've noticed this with FOX news and other states news sources that they don't accurately portray gun crimes in regards to weapons used.  While it could be argued as unintentional bias,  I am *not* surprised that they would be misrepresenting anything.  

Well, now it's an AK.  

Sources said the target of the shooting was standing at 68th and Honore Streets when the gunman began firing an AK-47-style rifle that police believe had been converted to fully automatic use. That person was not hit, but the gunman sprayed 29 high-caliber rounds up and down the street, hitting at least eight houses, and killing Starkesia, who had come to the living-room window to see what was going on at the end of her block. Her home sits about 300 feet north of where police believe the gunman was firing.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060308reedshooting,1,2301000.story?coll=chi-news-hed

Well now the media spin is in full bloom. Seems like since our gov leaders did now renew the AWB these weapons are again "flooding our streets"

Damn. I never seem to get in on these deals. Everywhere I go all the evil weapons that are flooding the streets apparently are gone by the time I get there.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0603100127mar10,0,731003.story?coll=chi-newsopinioncommentary-hed

That editorial is despicable.

One fact refutes his entire argument.  Assault weapons ARE banned in Chicago and Cook County.  That fact didn't seem to matter to the perp though.  Criminals don't follow assault weapon bans.

Quoted: That editorial is despicable. One fact refutes his entire argument.  Assault weapons ARE banned in Chicago and Cook County.  That fact didn't seem to matter to the perp though.  Criminals don't follow assault weapon bans.

True.

Quoted: That editorial is despicable. One fact refutes his entire argument.  Assault weapons ARE banned in Chicago and Cook County.  That fact didn't seem to matter to the perp though.  Criminals don't follow assault weapon bans.

I sent him an email stating just that... Haven't heard back from him and I bet that I don't.

In reading over what I wrote, I was definitely not at my best... But I think it conveyed the point.

Ordinarily, I'm not the sort of guy who bothers trying to change the minds of anyone else. I think it was Schiller who said "Opposition never converts the enthusiasts but merely acts to inflame him..." but your piece in the Times really calls for correction. I would ask that you read this. I know that your position is quite fragile and crumbles at even the slightest exposure to rationality and logic, but you might be a better man for understanding this topic a bit better. You stated " It is now lawful for companies to manufacture, sell and distribute these weapons. And it is lawful for a person to buy an assault weapon if he or she is not a felon." Tell ya what Mr. Safer. I defy you to go find a gun shop in the Chicago City Limits- where this crime occurred- that sells this sort of weapon. The basic predicate for your laughably flawed position holds that criminals would be adherent to whatever laws are passed. So why was Starkesia Reed killed in a city that has the strictest firearms prohibition in the country? If your ideas are correct- that the passage of "gun laws" is what was needed here- why did this happen in a city where it is a felony to own the very weapon use in this crime? It's easy to be coy and dismissive about gun rights when they aren't something that's native to your own heritage or interests (as I would wager a years pay is precisely the case with you). It's simple to levy blame on "that there NRA" every time a crime is committed. Unfortunately, the situation is far more complex and cannot be summed up in a sound byte. To suggest that the "killer" was assisted by Congress and the President because of the lapse of a law that prohibited Bayonet Lugs and Threaded Barrel Tips is patently absurd. This tells me that you are either entirely clueless about the law of which you speak, or you have a more sinister motive, willing to lie to promote an agenda (however good your intentions may be) You know, I am not a fan of the word "ignorant" as here in our present day, it's really lost all meaning. It's become a hollow charge that's levied against whomever the opposition on any given issue might be without any regard to its applicability or validity. But on this one issue, it defines the very essence of "your side". You know of firearms from what you see on the television set. Firearms are something distant and "unneeded" to the attorney from Chicago. Do you know why this issue has never clearly resolved itself? Why congress just can't seem to ever "stand up" to the NRA? Because at the end of the day, I am far, far more motivated to keep my firearms than you ever will be about taking them away. To you, it's a broad hypothesis that fits into your own child-like views of a perfect world. To me, it's my private property, my personal heritage and a right that I happen to consider as essential as all others. So, the next time there is a tragedy involving a scumbag with a firearm (and there will be- a free society will always have that minute percentage who abuse their freedoms to do the wrong thing) pull your hair and blame the "NRA" all you wish. Just understand that the "NRA" represents 65,000,000 gun owners who didn't do anything wrong today and aren't willing to give up a damn thing just to soothe your own irrationalities on the matter. Sorry this was so long

His Reply:Ordinarily, I'm not the sort of guy who bothers responding to anonymous e-mails, but yours was thoughtful and thought-provoking.  I agree with much of what you write in your message.  I agree that there were laws that prohibit the carrying of any weapon in Chicago.  I agree that more laws aren't always the answer.  But I know first hand that laws are difficult to enforce.  I worked for a decade trying to enforce them against some of the country's most dangerous criminals.  The point I was trying to make was a simple one: if no one manufactured these guns, then no one could buy them.  If no one had access to this assault weapon, or other semi-automatic or automatic weapons, Starkasia Reed would still be alive.  I don't think you would quarrel with those propositions, even if we might disagree about the wisdom of such a law.

Well, I'll admit, I'm floored that you took the time to reply. For the benefit of both of our attention spans, I'll try to keep this less windy than my former email as I'm sure we both have better things to do than debate something via the internet that will never affirmatively conclude itself, but I don't know if I'll be able to. Even if you don't read it, I do thank you for your initial reply. What's most disturbing about this whole issue is your desire to criminalize an entire class of people who have done absolutely nothing wrong. These are good, honest people, Mr. Safer. Not only do I "know them", but I am one. Safe to say that you don't know many of "us" as the City of Chicago is pretty self-insulating when it comes to shooters, outdoorsman and firearms hobbyists, but I can assure you that if you took the time to get to know these people, you would realize that they are the least of our worries. You said  "if no one manufactured these guns, then no one could buy them.  If no one had access to this assault weapon, or other semi-automatic or automatic weapons, Starkasia Reed would still be alive." What if I were to say to you, Mr. Safer, that if no one manufactured Razor Blades, there wouldn't have been a 9/11. Yes, indeed, given that the terrorists used razor blades to-a-man on that day, obviously, the razor blades are what "caused" the hijackings…  You would probably have a good chuckle. This analogy is identical to the same tenuous logic that you are trying to apply to the gun issue. Unfortunately, given the misunderstandings and pervasive public ignorance surrounding firearms, your logically fallacious ideas actually gain traction amongst those who base their thinking on "perfect world idealism" rather than the facts as they are, here in the real world. Like it or not, these guns are here. Let's all work to prosecute those who misuse firearms rather than apply blanket hypothesis that catches everyone, good and bad, in the same net. In short (and in closing) I would just like to say that the world we live in isn't Disneyland. We live in a nation with 280,000,000 people and as many firearms. The bad guys aren't going to give them up, and to be honest, the good guys aren't going to give them up either. We cannot stomp our feet and try to apply "European" solutions to this issue whenever a tragedy occurs as the situation in this country is entirely unique (by design of the people who founded the country). To actually support the passage of laws that would directly and adversely impact some of our countries most decent and honest people based on a flawed, child-like ideal (that has perpetually shown itself to be an impractical failure) is a dangerous realm to enter. To cite the most recent precedence, after the Dunblaine tragedy, England rounded up all of their 60,000+ registered handguns and destroyed them. Handgun crime in the United Kingdom is UP DRAMATICALLY since the ban. I will repeat that. No one makes any handguns in the United Kingdom no one legally owns a handgun in the United Kingdom, yet their incidences of crime with handguns IS UP after they banned them. It just goes to show that the idea of passing laws to impact the honest serve no ends to impact those who don't follow those laws in the first place- the very criminals who are cited as being the reason for these laws existence. I wish you a good day. Hopefully, we can adjudicate this matter in court one day.

Heard daley on the radio reinforcing the awb  argument this A.M.

He never thinks about crime being outlawed, or gangs... Only firearms.   Then we can all be criminals.

Fuck him.

Well written OPP.

For them, the time is hot to inflame the populace against semi-automatic weapons that look like military weapons.

Daley is the voice to incite riots in the minds of the less informed.

These two shootings could not have happen at a better time after the dead line of HB2414 came and expired.

OPP

Your screen name belies your skill with a pen.

A commanding piece and the follow-up was equally thorough. You did not leave his "ignorance" anywhere to hide. Strong and rational, making great thoughtful points all along the way.

I could almost believe that Mr. Safer ( if that is his real name) , if not smelling the coffee, can at least hear it dripping.

I am down with you.


JR

The Trib "forgot"  to print the current bio of the Mr. Safer (the Op-ed writer ).

Here it is from his company's web page:

" Ronald S. Safer leads the Schiff Hardin White Collar Criminal Defense Group and  is particularly active in representing taxpayers in controversies with the government involving tax shelters
....He has successfully represented a Fortune 100 company as well as other companies and numerous individuals under investigation for financial frauds. ".  

OPP

Every time I read your leters to Safer they get better.

These are great talking points for disarming enraged soccer moms. And even better for using on fence sitters who are not yet on a side.

JR