Marches won't stop city gangs, violence

I attended the meeting where the Elgin Youth Football League, Elgin police and concerned parents and citizens gathered to talk about the shooting at the football field.

It was very emotionally charged and rightfully so. The police chief informed us that the several recent shootings in Elgin are not related to each other, but random. Wrong place, wrong time. She stated it could happen again, without warning, and take place anywhere. That's a reality we all need to face and address by showing an active participation in our community.

I was shocked by the police saying there are 18 known gangs operating in the city. And I was shocked there were no offers to assist the police, just questions about how were the police going to provide security for the upcoming games. No one offered proactive suggestions or offered any possible solutions to the gang problems in Elgin and other criminal behavior.

No offers or suggestions of publishing the 18 known gang names or gang signs, so we, as a community, can become educated and informed, allowing us to keep a watchful eye on our neighborhoods and listen to see if any of these gang names come up in conversations with children.

There was no suggestion of approaching our city council and demanding their pro-active stance against this unwanted, undesirable, unconscionable behavior that is attacking our community from within and without.

There were no suggestions of enlarging the neighborhood watch programs, no suggestions of a community patrol in the hot spots and no suggestions of publishing the known hot-spot areas of concern the police pointed out. No suggestions of crime free zone signs or zero tolerance signs posted or better street lighting. Remembering that light is the best disinfectant.

But I did hear about a peace march. Oh, my goodness, how PC and peace loving is that? Will they break out in "Kumbaya" and "Give Peace a Chance?

Where is the leadership in this city? I sure hope this peace demonstration does not leave you with a false sense of security. One march does not make a community safe and rid it of undesirables.

We are all in danger because of gang crime and violence. I hope you won't continue with business as usual. It will be business as usual for the gang members, you can count on that.

I also wanted to take issue with the reporting of this shooting by our local newspapers, specifically the lack of full disclosure. Whatever happened to the basic rules of writing? Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

Margaret Miller

Elgin