It's no secret that gun violence is a major problem in the City of Chicago. I just didn't ever think it would hit so close to home.
A man was shot and killed on my street last Sunday at around 3:00 a.m. after leaving an area nightclub. I was awoken a few minutes before the shooting by the sounds of screaming and yelling, and then I heard the shots. Maybe I am just inexperienced and immature, but that was most definitely the scariest moment of my life.
I got to thinking....what is it in a person that drives them to commit such an act? How does a run of the mill bar fight spill out into the street and turn into homicide? This is the second homicide that has occurred on my street since the beginning of the year that revolved around nightclubs in the area. However, I really don't think we can blame the alcohol, because there have been many nights where I have been "over served" and NEVER have I thought about killing another person. Is it anger management? Gang related? I don't know.
So what do we do? Shut down the area nightclubs? Neighborhood organizations already tried that...new nightclubs open and the same problems persist. Ban handguns? Tried that too...and so far this summer it hasn't worked to deter gun violence in the city. I think this problem runs deeper than anything I know.
I do know this: when the clubs are open, I am afraid to come home late at night. And this is NOT something I am OK with.