Doomed to fail: Latest Chicago gun "buy-back" scheme focuses on "assault-type" weapons

By Gerard Valentino

CBS 2 in Chicago is reporting that Mayor Daley announced a continuation of his failed gun "buy-back" program. According to the story, if a resident turns in an "assault-type gun" they get a $100 gift card from the City.

From the story:

Mayor Daley today announced a new version of his long-running gun-buying program. This weekend, those who turn in weapons will receive debit cards worth up to $100 in exchange for an assault-type weapon.

The report also covers another of Daley’s irrational rants about the availability of so-called assault weapons on the streets of Chicago.

"Now think of that. Here's the mayor of the city of Chicago asking people to turn in assault weapons," Mayor Daley said. "We're not in Iraq. We're not in Afghanistan. We're in America. We're asking 'em to turn in assault weapons. What do we need an assault weapon in America for?"

Gun advocates can trot out limitless reasons to own what Daley calls an "assault weapon," including target shooting, collecting, self-defense and competition shooting. Plus, the simple fact is the right to bear arms as affirmed in the U.S Constitution means citizens don't need a reason to own a gun.

Although not always listed by pro-gun advocates, Daley's anti-gun policies are a primary reason to own an "assault type gun." Since, without the right to bear arms, freedom hating elected officials like Daley can impose their views on the citizenry.

Our Founders knew that America is a place of diverse and deep values which create passionate public debate about how to govern. But they also knew that unless the people had a means to fight tyranny, the social experiment of self-governance was meaningless.

Daley's administration is a perfect example of how tyrannical rule exists in America and someone can use our political system to destroy freedom.

He gains his tyrannical power by controlling the Chicago political machine, and his ability to do so proves tyranny through democracy can exist. Yet, even though Daley is the unchallenged ruler of Chicago, most Americans still believe a tyrannical ruler could never survive in America today.

Daley's reign, and actions, as self-imposed Czar of Chicago prove otherwise.

Through his control of the Chicago Democratic machine, Daley lives in a bubble as probably the safest elected official in America. Since he first ascended to his place as the patriarch of Chicago's first political family, attempts to unseat him were pure window dressing.

Just as his father, the first Mayor Richard Daley, ruled Chicago without fear of political retribution, the current Daley acts without any concern for his political future.

Even though the president of the United States is from Chicago, many in the city believe Mayor Daley actually has more power over the city's political landscape. Remember that Barack Obama is limited to two terms as President, while Daley can serve as Czar of Chicago until he dies. That means, in the long term, doing Daley's bidding means more to Chicago’s political elite than doing the same for Obama.

Gun "buy-back" programs have long been a part of Daley's plan to end gun violence in Chicago, and he often brags about how many guns he has destroyed. As noted in the CBS 2 report, the families of Chicago's murder victims get little peace from knowing Daley's schemes took a supposed 18,000 guns off of the street.

Instead of bragging about destroying guns, Daley needs to find new policies to end violent crime in Chicago. The city's long held anti-gun biases are clearly not working despite almost 50 years of unchecked gun-control.

Of course, Daley argues he hasn't been given enough latitude to disarm Chicagoans, which he claims is a major reason murders are so prevalent. There is no doubt that Daley will go door to door confiscating legally owned firearms if given the chance.

Daley, and his tyrannical actions in ruling Chicago, shine like a beacon for liberty-minded Americans who value freedom over security, or nearly anything else. He is a rallying point for those who demand an unabridged right to bear arms, and our Founders knew people of his ilk would try to find ways to use our political system to destroy civil rights.

In their infinite wisdom, the Founders bequeathed to us the most radical defense ever devised for resisting government's ceaseless plotting to control our lives – an affirmation of the right to bear arms.

If one of the Founders was alive today, and Daley asked for the reason the Second Amendment was included in the Constitution, it's likely he would simply be told to look in the mirror.

Gerard Valentino is the Buckeye Firearms Foundation Treasurer and writes for the ValentinoChronicle.com.