Rifles Now Please

In light of the recent mass murders of police officers in Oakland and Pittsburgh, we'd like see the following:

• Gun locks in the cars NOW;
• Rifles and shotguns on the street NOW;
• Elimination of the ridiculous requirements to carry a weapon that should have been on the street years ago. We'd rather have the rifle in the hands of a capable shooter with a bum knee and a twisted back than sitting in the radio room, collecting dust, doing nobody any good.

We'll explain this so even a caveman could understand it. We have an assortment of tools that were invented decades ago. They are called a rifle and a shotgun. For some reason, an anti-gun mayor has decided that we can't carry these tools despite clear evidence they could save the lives of officers and citizens.

Now, in the event that one or more individuals are cut down by an assailant wielding superior firepower, those who were shot will bleed to death while officers hunker down at a distance with inadequate weaponry waiting for backup. Unfortunately, some of those shot may be our coworkers. And those rifles that may have permitted officers to return fire, pin down the assailant, maybe even end the assault and save lives? So sorry, but the mayor doesn't like guns.

You want to raise morale, make officers safer and maybe even get a few brownie points from the rank and file? Authorize rifles and shotguns first thing Monday morning, no preconditions. We'll bet your "policy group" will be pissing themselves to present this idea as their shining moment. Try to remember we've been saying it here with our readers since before you came to Chicago.