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Rahm: Trump Should 'Take Responsibility' For Flow Of Guns To Chicago

By Heather Cherone | October 3, 2017 11:40am
  Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tuesday blasted the Trump administration for suggesting that strict gun control laws wouldn't stop mass shootings like the one Sunday in Las Vegas that killed 59 people by pointing to Chicago.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tuesday blasted the Trump administration for suggesting that strict gun control laws wouldn't stop mass shootings like the one Sunday in Las Vegas that killed 59 people by pointing to Chicago.
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Politico/ flickr/Gage Skidmore

NEAR WEST SIDE — Mayor Rahm Emanuel Tuesday blasted the Trump administration for suggesting that strict gun control laws wouldn't stop mass shootings like the one Sunday in Las Vegas that killed 59 people by pointing to Chicago.

"I really do wish that once in this administration they would take responsibility and accountability for something," Emanuel said after participating in a planning exercise to ensure that the Chicago Marathon runs smoothly Sunday.

"Chicago's gun laws are no different than New York and Los Angeles," Emanuel said. "What is different is New York is right next to New Jersey and Connecticut, which have similar gun laws. We are next to Indiana and Wisconsin."

"If you really want a gun, you can just drive over the Indiana border, and get whatever you want," Emanuel said. "That is why you need national gun legislation that prevents gang members or criminals from getting their hands on an assault weapon that is not meant for the streets of any urban center."

Before becoming vice president, Mike Pence was the Republican governor of Indiana.

A gunman opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday killing at least 59 people and wounding approximately 527 people, prompting renewed calls for tough restrictions on high-capacity guns.

A 2014 report showed that the majority of Chicago's illegally owned guns are coming from out of state.

Trump frequently took aim at Chicago's gun laws and its violence while on the campaign trail last year.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Monday that the day should be a "a day of mourning," and not a day to discuss policy. But after that, Sanders was asked about gun control and turned the attention to Chicago and its struggles with gun violence.

"I think one of the things that we don't want to do is try to create laws that won't create or stop these types of things from happening," Sanders said. "I think if you look to Chicago, where you had over 4,000 victims of gun-related crimes last year, they have the strictest gun laws in the country. That certainly hasn't helped there."

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) clapped back on Twitter, pointing out where the city's guns come from. 

"More than ½ of #CHI crime guns come from outside IL, mostly from @VP's IN & @SpeakerRyan's WI. This is a reality," Robin tweeted to Sanders.

Experts say Chicago doesn't really have the nation's strictest gun laws.