Does Use of Force Scenario and Shooting in Chicago Prove Futility of Gun ‘Turn-in’ Events?

Just one week ago we were reporting on so-called “turn-in” events in the Windy City. The philosophy of course is that if the public servants can remove firearms from the equation, all their crime issues will go with them. Many know that statistically, that’s not true, and in reality, it’s the inverse that proves to be factual. Chicago has a crime problem, regardless of there being guns involved or not. Early morning on Saturday the 21st there were reports of shots being fired and it escalated into a police use of force situation.

The report notes that at around 12:45 a.m., officers responded to a call concerning a person with a gun and reports of gunfire. The Chicago Police Department release said that the event occurred at the 5700 block of W. North Avenue. “As officers arrived on scene, they observed an offender shooting at an individual on the ground,” the release stated. “That individual sustained multiple gunshot wounds.”

Shortly after the officers’ arrival, it was stated that they were fired upon by the perpetrator, with gunfire hitting their squad car. It was said that one of the officers returned fire and the perpetrator fled the scene. Subsequent to fleeing the scene, the perpetrator was apprehended and placed in custody. No officers were injured during the event.

It was said that three firearms were recovered from the scene of the event.

As noted earlier, this event comes at the heels of two gun turn-in events having just occurred one week prior. The 5700 block of W. North Avenue is 17.2 miles away from the closest location of the prior week’s turn-in events. Was 17.2 miles not close enough for the efficacy of a turn-in event to impact that area? Or, is this a product of other findings?

A 2021 study makes an important statement, “While policymakers are fiercely debating whether to implement GBPs [gun buyback programs], little is known about their effectiveness.”

Looking at data and trying to interpret the effects of such turn-in events, the study noted that “in the two months following a GBP, we detect a small increase in gun crimes with no corresponding change in non-gun crimes.” The increase in crime is noted to be 4.8 to 7.0 percent. The conjecture is that potential criminal offenders might be acting in response “to perceptions about the likelihood of self-defense among law-abiding gun owners.”

“Finally, turning to data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) we find no evidence that GBPs affected firearm-related suicides or homicides,” the study stated further.

Holistically, these turn-in or so-called “buyback” programs have shown there to be an increase in violent crime, “specifically, GBPs are associated with increases in robberies, assaults (aggravated and simple), weapon law violations, and kidnappings.”

One final observation to note about turn-in events has to do with potential motives. Turn-in events “could result in an increase in the sale of newly manufactured, well-functioning guns,” the study stated. “Anecdotal evidence indicates that some GPB participants turn in their guns to upgrade to better weapons.”

The real question the Chicago policymakers should be asking is, “Are the 17.2 miles close enough in proximity for the turn-in event to have had the observed increase in violence in the time preceding such events?”

It’s doubtful the anti-freedom caucus will ever pay attention to the facts that say more guns in legal hands actually equals less crime. Nor is it likely they’ll note that these turn-in events have a negative effect. The narrative is as clear as day and no statistics will stop them from doing what they’re bid to do. In the meantime, the good people and police officers in cities like Chicago suffer equally due to impotent policies and politics.