Assailed but not necessarily assaulted

First, the Sniper would like to point out that it is always a tragedy when a child dies for any reason. It is the one thing we parents fear most in life - the loss of a child. So, my heart goes out to the family of Siretha White.

But what I detest is politicians politicizing a tragedy such as this. Immediately, Richard Daley was mugging for the cameras and stated:

"How many more children have to die before the federal government restores more funding to fight crime. Especially against gun traffickers and those who own gun stores."

Daley is a huge proponent of the old assault weapons ban (or any firearms for that matter) and described the weapon used in this crime as an assault weapon. The weapon in question was a TEC-9, 9mm x 18 parabellum semi-auto machine pistol, which by definition, is not an assault weapon.

More to the point, however, rather than quibble with Daley's ignorance on the subject, was that Daley placed the blame for Siretha's death on "gun traffickers" and "gun store" owners.

Mr. Daley, would you blame the car dealership for the death of someone killed by one of their customers while driving the car the customer purchased from them? Would it matter whether the vehicle were called a sedan or a truck or an SUV? Would the victim be any "more" dead as a result of the vehicle used?

Mr. Daley, since you are kind of slow, I'll give you a hint: NO. When someone is killed, they are just as dead as the next dead person regardless of the device used to kill them. One device is no more heinous than another.

What you have failed to grasp, as so many politicians of your ilk have, is that demonizing the implement used to kill will not save another life. A TEC-9 is harmless unless a human being is wielding it. An SUV is harmless unless someone is behind the wheel. A knife is harmless unless a person chooses to use it. The root problem is not the TEC-9, not the gun trafficker, not the gun shop owner...the problem is the beast that used the weapon!

23-year-old Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar drove a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee into The Pit at the UNC-Chapel Hill campus around noon on 3 March, injuring at least 5 students. If we use Richard Daley's logic, the dealership that sold this Jeep Grand Cherokee is to blame, not Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar!!!!

Siretha White was killed by gang members. Remember that detail Mayor Daley before you go calling for more government regulations on legal gun sales and legal gun ownership. Remember that the law only applies to the law-abiding - criminals are criminals because they don't abide by the law.

And speaking of criminals, Google this: chicago corruption. You'll end up with 13,700,000 hits and every one of them that I have taken the time to peruse (and it was alot), you'll find Richard Daley's hands all over them. Misery loves company and I guess Daley and the gang-bangers and the Reza Taheri-azars of the world want us to join them. Richard Daley, you are a chip off the old block - didn't your daddy get in trouble for corruption too?

Do Chicago a favor - resign and leave. You've enabled enough criminals for one lifetime.