I’m sure you are privy to the growing number of shootings in gun-controlled Chicago every weekend. The only thing keeping up with the number of shootings is the violent crime rate. In fact, it’s so bad that one prosecutor moved his family away for safety. And he did it just in time, as Chicago now has a teen mob problem on its hands. Likely emboldened by soft-on-crime policies.
Teen Mob Incidents in Chicago Shine Light on Soft-on-Crime Failures
On Monday night, June 26, 2023, Chicago became the scene of complete mayhem as hundreds of teens filled the streets. There wasn’t a holiday or celebration of anything specific. Their sports team hadn’t just won a championship. They just saw order and decided to introduce chaos into its midst.
According to WGN News, “The teen[s] poured off the Chicago “L” train at the Belmont Red Line stop, shutting the roadway for several hours in a scene that unfolded just after 10 p.m.”
Reports indicate that the flash mob was jumping on cars, breaking glass, and throwing things. One innocent bystander stated that their vehicle was even used as a bar to make drinks. Another shared video with WGN of young people surrounding a police car, while some even jumped on it.
Breitbart News reports, “The teens immediately began jumping up and down on vehicles, damaging rooftops and hoods and breaking windshields, before they fanned out to enter local businesses.”
When one woman called the Chicago Police Department (CPD), she was told there was nothing they could do. According to her statement, the department was so overwhelmed, and there were just too many calls coming in.
“It’s terrifying,” said Grace Rohen, adding that she heard gunshots and was too scared to leave her apartment. “It has been very chaotic, and as somebody who’s lived in Lakeview for the past three years, it’s very scary to see how things have changed over time.”
Police Watch as Teens Destroy Property
Maybe not so surprisingly, as the scene unfolded, many police officers stood by watching.
“A bunch of cops standing around watching it, and I went up to one of them and said, ‘my car is there,’ and they said, ‘well you’re not getting it tonight,’” Dominic Rescigno told ABC 7.
The next morning, Rescigno found that people had rummaged through his car. This included opening the glove compartment and stealing items inside, and spilling the catnip in the trunk all over the street. He had just purchased the car in December and still has a hefty car payment.
WGN reports, “Neighbors told WGN News they were horrified by the extent of the damage Tuesday morning that included shoeprints on cars, dented hoods, and broken windshields.”
Shockingly, there were only two arrests made that night. One was a 15-year-old girl who was charged with aggravated assault of a first responder, resisting and obstructing traffic.
Not the First Teen Takeover
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and is becoming a growing concern. In April, a couple were attacked as hundreds of teens mobbed the downtown loop area. Fortunately, a good Samaritan rescued the couple before they were seriously injured.
Also, in April, two teens were shot during a four-night riot that forced the Chicago Police Department to call for reinforcements. According to reports, about 200 teens erupted in a mass fight in the popular Millennium Park. As with Monday’s incident, the teens were harassing other people and jumping on top of cars and buses.
Additionally, Saturday night, May 20, 2023, hundreds of teens swarmed Tinley Park, shutting down Armed Forces Weekend celebrations. According to reports, at least 400 teenagers showed up at the carnival, and multiple fights broke out. One officer was hurt, and another individual was choked while an attempt was made to steal their jacket.
Likewise, Tuesday, June 20, 2023, hundreds of teens descended on a BP gas station near 31st Street and Michigan Avenue. They ransacked the store and broke glass above the front door. Likewise, they were running up and down the street, jumping on cars, cursing, twerking in the street, etc. One 18-year-old woman was struck by a gray vehicle that fled the scene.
Chicago Illustrates the Failure of Soft-on-Crime Policies
It’s unfortunate to watch as Chicago descends into complete lawlessness, punctuated by its teen mob problem. It’s a beautiful city, and I have taken my family there to see Shedd Aquarium and other sites in the past.
However, those days are gone. Chicago is falling, and gun control and soft-on-crime policies are to blame. Residents of Chicago have lost their gun rights and were told that the police will protect them. Now those same residents are watching as the police stand idly by and watch teen mobs violently ransack the city.
There was hope during the recent election that saw the ouster of Mayor Lightfoot. Unfortunately, the city’s residents doubled down and elected someone even more progressive. This means they may want to buckle up, this isn’t going to get any better.
The new Mayor, Brandon Johnson, is not interested in addressing the problem. Instead, he is focusing on blaming anyone who points it out. When the Mayor makes victims out of criminals, expect them to get bolder. If that’s even possible.
In April, Johnson excused this behavior, and now it’s becoming commonplace:
“In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend,” Johnson said after the four days of destruction wrought in April. “It is unacceptable and has no place in our city. However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities.”
It is worth noting that Chicago has been run by Democrats since long before any of these teens were born.
As the old adage goes, an armed society is a polite society. When criminals know citizens can’t do anything and the government won’t do anything, it never ends well.
