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The Chicago Police Department on Monday announced a new initiative against gun violence following another violent weekend, in which more than 50 people were gunned down in the city and 11 died.
Police Superintendent David Brown announced the department would create a team of 50 officers who would target gun dealers, straw buyers, unsavory gun dealers and anyone helping to introduce illegal guns in Chicago, ABC News reports.
“The goal of this investigative team – which is new and unique, and a first in its class – is to get the weapon before it hits the streets in traffic,” Brown said during a press conference. “These third parties need to hear me out loud: we are coming for you, and we will try to make you pay the highest amount possible, if not in the federal system, then at the state attorney’s office.”
In addition to the new team, a 24-hour gun trafficking information hotline will also be established to “give Chicagoans a voice to remove these tools of violence from the streets of Chicago.” According to Brown, “large payments” will be made to those who tip leading to an arrest.
ABC notes that an 11% increase in shootings has been observed in Chicago since the same period last year. Brown said police officers across the country are seeing levels of shootouts that rival those seen in the 1980s and 1990s.
“Don’t buy guns for violent people is our message, or you will pay the price for doing what we hope is serious time,” Brown added, addressing those who buy illegal guns. “It doesn’t matter what they pay you to go buy those guns … it’s blood money.”
According to Brown, the new team will work closely with federal and state authorities to shut down the gun pipelines. The team will focus in particular on finding illegal arms vendors.
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