Shootings show failure of justice system

Last night, I saw a TV interview of a mom on the Chicago South Side after her 7-year-old daughter had been shot and wounded in the leg. The mom said “I’m OK because she’s OK” No she’s not OK; she’s been shot at 7 years old.

Given a life expectancy of 70 years she has 90 percent of her life to live with a bullet wound scar. A neighbor man who went to the girls aide also was wounded and also said he’s “OK”. Again, no; he has been shot.

When I buy groceries, I am taxed. When I buy clothes, I am taxed. When I buy gas, boy am I taxed. If I am fortunate enough to own property, I really learn about taxation. Illinois is about to sell a brand new prison to the feds because we can’t afford to staff it. Not because we don’t need it, we can’t staff it.

My plan would be to institute a transaction fee of .01 cent for each purchase transaction, really a painless, probably not noticeable fee. Use that to fund, staff, and if necessary expand jails and prisons. We don’t need new gun laws, we need to give the justice system the ability, along with the mandate to vigorously enforce the laws we currently have on the books.

No little girl should go through life thinking a bullet wound scar is OK or normal.

Jim Goldman

Third Lake