Call Out the Guard!

Well, it's come to this. They're calling in the guard.

Two state representatives called on Gov. Pat Quinn Sunday to deploy the Illinois National Guard to safeguard Chicago's streets.

113 people have been killed across Chicago so far this year, the same number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined in the same period. State reps want to fight violence with National Guard's help. I guess they'd rather have troops get killed closer to home?

In addition to what the implications are to having troops patrol the streets of Chicago, these two politicians have publicly displayed an amazing lack of confidence in the Chicago Police Department, Dah Mayor, and the ability to quell the violence in the streets.

Chicago Democrats John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford said they want Quinn, Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis to allow guardsmen to patrol streets and help quell violence. Weis said he did not support the idea because the military and police operate under different rules.

"Is this a drastic call to action? Of course it is," Fritchey said. "Is it warranted when we are losing residents to gun violence at such an alarming rate? Without question. We are not talking about rolling tanks down the street or having armed guards on each corner."

Maybe if they rolled back the 'corruption tax' and bothered to fund the schools in the neighborhoods with the highest homicide rates? Maybe if they attracted some jobs in those areas, rather than invite crippling welfare rolls, or by having the highest sales tax in the nation and telling businesses to take a hike - yeah, maybe you wouldn't have to consider bringing in troops to solve territory wars.

Or you could get really 'progressive' and legalize the drugs that the kids are slinging? Maybe or maybe you could tighten that handgun ban. Oh, you did? How's that working out? You're asking for troops to patrol the gun free zones?

Fritchey said he expects a, "heightened presence on the streets," particularly on the roughly 9 percent of city blocks where most of the city's violent crimes occur.

Weis previously identified those "hot spots" and said he plans to create a 100-person team made up of selected and volunteer police personnel to respond to crime there. If guardsmen were to assist police, they could comprise or contribute to that force, Fritchey said. And then what? Kill citizens? Would this be a police action or martial law? Would there be house to house searches without warrants - the same kind that Ross Perot championed in 1992? Well, that's the next step when the hotspot plan doesn't yield results.

Quick history lesson, in 1970 Kent State University incident where the National Guard was called in and protesters and students were shot, Weis said having guardsmen handle crime could be "disastrous." But he said if The Daley suggested it, he would consider the option. Funny how that works.

"I'm open to anything that reduces violence. But I have concerns when you mix law enforcement and the military," Weis said.

But Fritchey and Ford said prompt action is needed because summer is right around the corner and with the warm weather comes an increase in violence.

Fritchey and Ford serve two different constituencies, representing the North Side and the West Side respectively. "One half of this city views this as a part of daily life," Fritchey said. "Another part of the city doesn't care because it doesn't affect them." Yet the lawmakers said they are coming together because gun violence should be a priority to all Chicagoans.

"No help is too much help" Ford said. "This is not just about the murders. It's about the crime. It's about people being stabbed, robbed and in the hospital on life support."

Fritchey said he spoke to representatives from Quinn's office about deploying guardsmen and they "seemed open to the idea." The lawmakers had yet to speak to Weis or the mayor's office.

"I don't anticipate the governor implementing it over the objection of the mayor," Fritchey said.

"I hope this doesn't become a territorial issue. I hope this doesn't become an ego issue. This isn't about public relations or politics. This is about reclaiming our communities."

Funny part is, there's a governmental territory issue that will have to get worked out too. Since it's against the law for the troops to be engaged by an order of martial law is declared by the Governor. Even then, the Guard have no police authority to arrest, only maintain order.

And, the rules of engagement would make their presence useless anyway.

It's an election year. John Fritchey and LaShawn Ford are running for re-election.

-- Kristen Mack and Daarel Burnette II contributed to the cut'n'paste part of this article.