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Home · Politics

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Tells Ted Cruz To Keep Chicago Out Of His Mouth On Gun Control

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) pointed to Chicago as an example of why gun control doesn't work and Mayor Lori Lightfoot wasn't having it.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot Tells Ted Cruz To Keep Chicago Out Of His Mouth On Gun Control
Jose M. Osorio/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
By Breanna Edwards · Updated October 23, 2020

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot had time for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) earlier this week, telling Cruz to “keep our name out of your mouth” after the Republican decided it was a good idea to drag Chicago into his argument about gun control.

“Gun control doesn’t work. Look at Chicago. Disarming law-abiding citizens isn’t the answer,” Cruz tweeted on Monday. “Stopping violent criminals—prosecuting & getting them off the street—BEFORE they commit more violent crimes is the most effective way to reduce murder rates. Let’s protect our citizens.”

Gun control doesn’t work. Look at Chicago. Disarming law-abiding citizens isn’t the answer. Stopping violent criminals—prosecuting & getting them off the street—BEFORE they commit more violent crimes is the most effective way to reduce murder rates. Let’s protect our citizens. https://t.co/znHO31gDH2

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 2, 2019

Lightfoot fired back in a tweet of her own, saying that “60% of illegal firearms recovered in Chicago come from outside [Illinois]—mostly from states dominated by coward Republicans like you who refuse to enact commonsense gun legislation.”

60% of illegal firearms recovered in Chicago come from outside IL—mostly from states dominated by coward Republicans like you who refuse to enact commonsense gun legislation. Keep our name out of your mouth. https://t.co/yVM4JHL3xy pic.twitter.com/pr613A3dpf

— Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) September 3, 2019

But, Cruz didn’t back off, claiming that Lightfoot’s “anger” was misplaced, in a series of tweets.

“Virtually every year, Chicago has the most murders of any city in America,” he said in one tweet. “In 2017, the top five were: Chicago (650 murders), Baltimore (343), Philadelphia (317), New York (290), and Los Angeles (286).”

“All five of those cities have had Democratic mayors for decades and aggressive gun control policies—none seems to be working. Your explanation (“blame Indiana!”) doesn’t hold water. There are 27 states with GOP governors. Chicago is not alone in having neighboring red states,” he added.

2/x All five of those cities have had Democratic mayors for decades and aggressive gun control policies—none seems to be working. Your explanation (“blame Indiana!”) doesn’t hold water. There are 27 states with GOP governors. Chicago is not alone in having neighboring red states.

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2019

4/x Maybe, rather than getting angry when others point out the tragically high murder rate in Chicago, you put aside the partisan talking points & the failed gun-control policies Chicago has pursued for decades. Instead, lock up the violent criminals who are committing murder…

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2019

5/x …PREVENT felons & fugitives from illegally buying firearms, and ALLOW law-abiding citizens (who are right now obeying Chicago’s prohibition) to exercise their constitutional right to protect their own lives and their families.

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 3, 2019

Lightfoot wasn’t going to back down either, tweeting back, “When [Ted Cruz] and the [GOP] dismiss common-sense gun policies, they disrespect victims and their families, who deserve to live without pain and fear.”

When @tedcruz and the @gop dismiss common sense gun policies, they disrespect victims and their families, who deserve to live without pain and fear.

— Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) September 3, 2019

.@tedcruz can read more about where illegal guns in Chicago come from here: https://t.co/7g9vcTP6pv pic.twitter.com/bhIlsWxPHI

— Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) September 3, 2019

“If you really care about Chicagoans, Texans and everyone facing gun violence, take action, Tell [Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) it’s time for universal background checks [and] an assault weapons ban,” Lightfoot added.

2)If you want to come to Chicago and learn about the root causes of gun violence, I’ll be glad to show you around & we can have that convo. But enough with this dishonest use of our city as a cheap symbol to cover for the @gop’s unwillingness to protect their constituents.

— Lori Lightfoot (@LightfootForChi) September 4, 2019

Mayor, the most significant “root cause” is that criminals have all the guns. One place to start is not releasing back to the public, but rather locking up violent, repeat offenders before they murder again: https://t.co/U2Hyn0CSiH https://t.co/v7PLn0ICnc

— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) September 4, 2019

This past Labor Day weekend, when Cruz fired off his first tweets, Chicago saw a sharp rise in gun violence, where at least 44 people were shot, nine of whom were killed, the Chicago Tribune reports.

The youngest to die in the stream of violence was 15-year-old Davantae Jackson, who was killed early Sunday in front of his own home.

TOPICS:  Dallas police chief renee hall gun control gun violence Ted Cruz White Supremacy Ted Cruz
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