US Cardinal Blase Cupich has announced a ban on all guns on church properties. His decision comes as the city of Chicago continues to battle chronic violence and is part of an effort, announced in April, to address the root causes of violence in the city. Cardinal Cupich has pledged $250,000 to assist grassroots effort at combating violence.
In a memo to all archdiocesan personnel last week, Cupich said, “The intent of this policy is to balance the rights of all who approach Archdiocesan churches, schools or other facilities with the greatest possible protection for children, the elderly, and otherwise vulnerable people in our society.”
Chicago, Illinois, has one of the highest murder rates in the United States at 27.22 per 100,000 residents. By way of comparison, New York City has a murder rate of 3.0 per 100,000. The rate for total violent crime, which includes assault, rape and robbery, is 903.8 in Chicago and 585.8 in New York. Much of the disparity is due to gang-related violence, which predominates in some Chicago neighbourhoods.
Last month, two men were shot and killed as they entered the Friendship Baptist church. Last year, a 17-year old boy was killed in front of Holy Cross Catholic church while Mass was being celebrated inside.
In 2013, the Illinois legislature passed a “conceal and carry” law that barred firearms from airports and other highly sensitive venues, but did not apply to churches.
PICTURE: A police detective inspects a car that was damaged by bullets at a crime scene in Chicago on 3 September, 2017
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