Gov. says Guard, state police may help in Chicago

[factorywolf]

Gov. says Guard, state police may help in Chicago
By DON BABWIN
Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO — Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Wednesday talked about sending state troopers or even the Illinois National Guard to help Chicago combat crime — an offer that Mayor Richard Daley didn't know was coming.

Appearing at a signing ceremony for a bill that toughens the penalty for adults who provide guns to minors, Blagojevich said "violent crime in the city of Chicago is out of control."

"I'm offering resources of the state to the city to work in a constructive way with Mayor Daley to do everything we can possibly do to help" stop this violence, the governor said.

Blagojevich said Daley had not asked for help and that he would call Daley later in the day.

Daley's spokeswoman Jody Kawada said the mayor welcomed a partnership on any issue but declined to comment until they knew more about what Blagojevich planned.

City police spokeswoman Monique Bond also said it was too soon to comment on the offer.

But she also took issue with the governor's contention that crime is "out of control" in Chicago. In fact, she said if the current murder rate holds, 2008 would be one of the least deadly years in the city in the last 40 years.

Violent crime has spiked in Chicago recently, however. Nine people were killed in 36 shootings during one weekend this spring and Chicago Public Schools officials say more than two dozen students have been killed by gunfire since last September.

Blagojevich had few details on his offer. Possibilities he mentioned were having state troopers work in lower-crime areas, freeing Chicago police officers for areas with more crime, or making temporary hires of retired city police and state troopers.

Blagojevich said it is far more likely that state troopers would be used than guardsmen. In fact, his office moved quickly after the governor's comments to stress in a news release that Blagojevich was not considering bringing in National Guard troops to the city.

"The only way the National Guard would be involved, if they are involved, is with the use of tactical helicopters that are currently used in narcotics operations," spokesman Lucio Guerrero said in a statement.

http://www.wacotrib.com/hp/content/shared-gen/ap/National/Chicago_Violence.html

 

[MaddSkillz]

I know!!! Instead of fixing it through pro-gun legislation... Let's send in the troops!!!

 

[Fyrtwuck]

I guess the Governor never heard of "Posse Comitatus".

 

[dhomoney]

Typical of the statist liberal mentality.

 

[1911user]

Illinois politics at its' finest. The Ill. governor just did a very good job of embarrassing Mayor Daley and his minions in chicago.

 

[mons meg]

Posse Comitatus doesn't come into play when it's your state guard and a declared state of emergency. What's interesting is the Governor apparently forgot that Daley actually runs Illinois and forgot to ask permission first.

 

[dhomoney]

Yeah Posse Comitatus would stop the US Army from helping but not National Guard. The thing of it is that I think we should take another look at this though. While the Governor can use them the fed.gov can take them and make them part of the US Army at any time. This would lead me to believe that they are not really state guard, but like the name says a National Guard. What Governors should be able to us are true state guard/militias. The National Guard, appears to me, to be just quasi-US Army.

A good example is the Texas State Guard. Virginia and Ohio also have state militias. These are wholly state organizations. They cannot be called up or given orders by the fed.gov, their only Commander-in-Chief is the Governor of their state. This is truly a state guard/militia and more suited to the task at hand.

 

[mons meg]

There's nothing in the OK Constitution that would prevent the Legislature from organizing a state-only militia, from how I read it.

Article 5, sec. 40:

§ 40. Militia.

The Legislature shall provide for organizing, disciplining, arming, maintaining, and equipping the Militia of the State.

 

[mons meg]

On a related note since I'm poring over OSCN, I can't find anything in the OK Constitution regarding "martial law". The Governor has the power to call out the militia to "execute the laws, protect the public health, suppress insurrection, and repel invasion."

Also, Article 2, Section 10 says:

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall never be suspended by the authorities of this State.

Not that Governors in the past haven't declared "martial law" and tried to suspend habeas corpus, but apparently the threat of impeachment has a chilling effect on that kind of behavior.

 

[tumbler]

AAANNNDDD again... here we go, another shining example of how Chicago "gun control" seems to be working wonders for the citizens of Chicago.

http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/could-the-national-guard-help-battle-crime-19318949