Kass Column on Muggings

Again, Kass hits the high notes:

• The Lincoln Park Marauders story isn't just a crime story. It's a political story.
  
  The details of the crimes have been repeated endlessly in the news. Unsuspecting taxpayers walking in high-end neighborhoods are approached by thugs, who punch the taxpayers in the face, beat the tar out of them, humiliate them further and take their money.
  
  It happens in other neighborhoods. But in other neighborhoods, unfortunately, this wouldn't lead the local newscasts. It would be police blotter stuff, next to the motor vehicle break-ins and petty thefts and bleak, one-paragraph accounts of murder.

And he throws the police a shout out:

• They'll catch them. Police have made one arrest and cut the suspect loose for lack of evidence, but sooner or later, the marauders will be caught. And we'll be treated to another dog and pony show. Politicians who rule from on high will thump their chests and pronounce Chicago safe. The real police will snicker and wonder when they'll ever get a contract.

Probably never at this rate.

Some truly jaw dropping entertainment at the community meeting though:

• "[Residents] really do feel safe up here so they ignore their environment," Belmont Area Deputy Police Chief Bruce Rottner said. "It's not 1975 anymore, it's 2009 ... if people aren't aware of their environment they set themselves up to be victims," he said.
  

Translation - We can't protect you. And due to Daley's reckless disregard of the Second Amendment, you aren't allowed to protect yourself. Good luck!

• "The violence aspect is what's really shocking people. People get mugged all the time. It happens. They take your money. But they don't put you in the hospital, and I think that's what people are concerned about," [Lincoln Park resident Nick Terrell] said.

Translation - I'm an idiot seeing as how anyone with a single brain cell could look around and find about 10,000 communities where people can walk around without a single mugging taking place within 100 miles of where they reside.