Gangs, not guns, root of violence

Mayor Daley and other civic leaders constantly focus on legislative action to ban guns as a solution to the surge in youth violence we are currently experiencing.

However, I remain skeptical that this is the answer. Declaring guns illegal does not necessarily equal their elimination as we well know from the continuing traffic of illegal drugs.

A bigger issue in my mind is the flourishing gang activity that exists in Chicago and in many of its suburbs.

Most of the killings I read about by whatever means: guns, knives, clubs, etc... are in some way connected to gang activity.

Both intended and unintended victims typically come about as a result of gang warfare. Until we take back the streets by eliminating such gang activity, our neighborhoods will remain unsafe places for all its citizens.

Unfortunately, passing additional laws in Springfield will not resolve the root cause of the problem.

James A. Mooney | Arlington Heights