News/Commentary

Slain Chicago officer might be alive if ‘gun laws already on the books’ were enforced

May 9, 2023 | | Print Article

Five people have been arrested in the murder of Chicago off-duty police officer Aréanah Preston, including one who had been busted on gun charges three times previously, prompting some to ask why politicians don’t enforce laws already on the books instead of spouting more gun control.

(Video Credit: CBS Chicago)

Journalist Greg Price tweeted what many wonder following the officer’s senseless death: “One of the suspects in the murder of Chicago police officer Aréanah Preston over the weekend was arrested three times on gun charges in the span of a year (as well as another for pushing his mother down the stairs) Two were dropped and one of them resulted in probation and community service. Now a woman is dead. Before we talk about taking guns from law abiding Americans, maybe left-wing politicians should start enforcing the ones on the books.”

“They don’t enforce the gun laws that are already on the books when criminals break them and their solution is to take guns from law abiding citizens,” Price added.

At least two of the suspects have been arrested for gun crimes.

The tragic gunning down of Preston happened on Saturday in front of her home and reportedly involved a robbery attempt. The 24-year-old officer had just finished her shift when she was shot and killed at 1:42 am, in in the 8100 block of South Blackstone Avenue, according to the Sun-Times.

As she was getting out of her car, the attackers passed her and then circled back to try and rob the officer. A gunfight ensued, a police source told the Sun-Times. Preston was hit at least twice and a third bullet is said to have grazed her. After that, her attackers took her gun and fled.

A fellow officer arrived on the scene and picked up Preston’s lifeless body, putting her in his squad car. He rushed her to the University of Chicago Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, Supt. Eric Carter said at a news conference Saturday morning outside the hospital.

(Video Credit: CBS Chicago)

Police arrested four people following an hours-long armed standoff Sunday night in the 7600 block of South Bishop Street, according to the Sun-Times. A 20-year-old woman was taken into custody by a fugitive apprehension team, a source stated. She allegedly stole a vehicle that was used in the shooting and that was later found torched. It is unknown if all five are directly connected to the death of Preston. According to a police spokesperson, the investigation is ongoing.

Preston had worked as an officer at the 5th Police District for three years. She was set to graduate from Loyola University School of Law with a Master of Jurisprudence next weekend.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot gave her condolences to Preston’s family and urged Chicagoans to respect police officers during Saturday’s news conference but she has done next to nothing to enforce laws already on the books. Instead, she has called for more and more gun control in one of the heaviest-regulated cities in the nation. Disarming innocent citizens is not working as the criminals are still getting weapons to do whatever they want as they victimize Chicago residents.

“It goes without saying, but I’ve directed the superintendent to spare no expense, to make sure we find the people responsible for this and bring them to justice,” Lightfoot hollowly said during the news conference. “Of course, that’s cold comfort to a family that is now grieving and has to walk this journey of grief and tragedy that no family should have to walk, and certainly not under these circumstances.”

The soon-to-be former mayor claimed that Preston’s death reminded her of the death of Ella French, a police officer who was fatally shot while on duty and died at the same hospital in August 2021. A 21-year-old man was charged with murder in French’s killing and Lightfoot again did nothing substantive except ticking off the Chicago Police Department.

Twitter users agreed with Price on his assessment of laws already on the books:

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