Retired Army general: Call in the National Guard to handle Chicago’s violence

A retired Army lieutenant general proposed a solution for how to get Chicago’s gun violence under control — call in the National Guard.

Russel L. Honoré, who oversaw the military relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, said during a news conference in Chicago that the situation should be handled in the same manner as a flood, tornado or other natural disaster.

“Let’s not let this be about pride,” Lt. Gen. Honoré said, according to the Chicago Tribune. “‘We are big ol’ Chicago, we are too proud, we can handle this.’ Maybe you can’t handle it.

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“If you need help, get the federal government here. But let’s control the streets so children and elderly people can be in a safe community,” he said.

The Tribune reports that the city last year exceeded 500 homicides for the first time since 2008, a 16 percent jump from 2011. It also notes that January saw the most homicides for that month since 2002.

“Many people are going to say why are you bringing that to my community?” the general said. “[But] do you want law enforcement or do you want people shooting day and night and destroying the lives of innocent people?”

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