In their eagerness to prevent federal troops from entering Chicago, city officials are cracking down—at least somewhat—on those they suspect might commit crimes. Sadly for Chicago’s lawful Black gun owners, it seems they are being included on the “danger” list.
Black Gun Owners Targeted in Chicago
According to a report at reason.com, Chicago police have been arresting lawful gun owners, even though they possessed and showed documents that permitted them to own and carry their firearms.
So, What’s Up?
Reason.com based its story on a CBS News Chicago report, which criticized police for arresting lawful Black gun owners without cause and making them navigate hoops to retrieve their firearms.
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“An investigation by CBS News Chicago uncovered several times where police stopped Black gun owners for minor traffic violations and then charged them with felonies—even though they had legal firearm licenses,” the station’s Dorothy Tucker and Samah Assad reported October 20.
“The findings prompted a rebuke from the National African American Gun Association. The ordeal also led to an exhausting toll and financial strain on the drivers. They had valid firearm licenses, but because of their arrests, spent months fighting to get charges dropped and expunged from their records.”
One of the cases mentioned was Louis McWilliams, a 46-year-old owner of a cheesecake bakery. On his way to a business meeting, police pulled him over for a missing front license plate (many are stolen in the state).
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According to CBS News, “Police body camera video shows that after the police stopped him, the first thing he did was tell the officers he had a gun in the car.”
He also presented his Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card and a concealed carry license (CCL), which CBS News confirmed as valid.
However, Chicago police said they couldn’t locate his CCL in the Illinois State Police-managed LEADS database, so they detained McWilliams overnight and charged him with a felony.
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Charges were later dropped, but that didn’t help McWilliams. His business suffered because of the missed meetings and his absences while he fought false charges, and he still hasn’t gotten his gun back.
Where’s The Outrage?
One gun-rights organization that is speaking out against the injustice is the National African American Gun Association (NAAGA).
“Outrage. Anger. Frustration. Not again,” NAAGA President Phil Smith posted on the organization’s Facebook page. “Those are the conversations and statements that are going on in my head when I hear about another black person being stopped illegally, being arrested illegally, when they’ve had all their stuff together.”
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Ultimately, the CBS Report concluded that “it’s nearly impossible to know how many drivers are wrongfully charged with unlawful gun possession, only to have the charges dismissed.” The reporters also identified several other cases, including two lawsuits, accusing police of violating the rights of legal gun owners in similar situations.
